1922
William
2013
William E Downie
March 4, 1922 — August 28, 2013
Poland - William Ellis Downie, 91, of Poland died peacefully on Wednesday, August 28.
Bill was preceded in death by his dear wife of over 62 years, Marjorie Germaine (Thomas) Downie, who passed away early this year. They married June 17, 1950.
Bill was born March 4, 1922 in Youngstown, Ohio, a son of James and Sarah (Wilson) Downie. He and his family lived initially on the West Side. Then the family moved to the South Side, into a home his father had built on Pinehurst Avenue. During the Depression, the family left the Youngstown area temporarily when Bill's father found work in upstate New York, returning to their Pinehurst Avenue home during World War II. Bill graduated in 1941 from Cuba Central School, Cuba, New York. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. He served aboard the U.S.S. Tarawa, and was discharged from active duty in 1946. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York in 1951.
Bill followed his father's footsteps into the construction business. In 1957 he founded W. E. Downie Co. The company remains active today. His wife Marjorie was his office manager. For many years his brother Jim was his business partner. Following retirement, Bill particularly enjoyed visiting construction sites because he always loved construction and the people connected with the business.
Bill worked hard to establish W. E. Downie Co. as a successful construction business, specializing in water and wastewater treatment plants and foundations and pump stations for water storage tanks. He was highly respected for his integrity and for the quality of his company's work, and he was well liked by the people who worked with him. Most of his jobs were located in the Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania areas, but, like his father before him, Bill would travel outside of these areas for construction work to support his business and his family. One job, possibly one of his favorites, was a wastewater treatment plant that he built in Cuba, New York, where he had graduated from high school.
Bill was an active member of the Poland All Sports Booster Club. In 2012 Bill and his wife received the Dr. Port Bulldog Spirit Award from the Booster Club. He was also a member of the Boardman Lions Club, Youngstown Shrine Club, and Poland Lodge No. 766, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the former Hillman Lodge No. 481, Free and Accepted Masons. Throughout his life, Bill maintained ties to his alma maters and to upstate New York. He was an active alumnus of both Cuba Central School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and he was a member of the Oriental Shrine Club, Troy, New York, and a 32nd degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Albany, New York.
In retirement, Bill stayed active and in contact with immediate and extended family and with his friends and community. He and Marjorie attended innumerable high school and college graduations, baptisms, First Communions, weddings, athletic contests and other events, very often traveling out of town to attend. He and Marjorie rarely missed his annual high school and U.S.S. Tarawa reunions. Bill was a regular at the Youngstown YMCA and in his various informal breakfast and dinner clubs. Every summer for over 20 years, he vacationed with his wife, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Five weeks ago, he was there again, surrounded by his loving family.
Bill is survived by his six sons, William J. (Jill) of Youngstown, Brian (Mary) of Washington, DC, Bruce (Carolyn) of Chagrin Falls, Brad (Sue) of Boardman, Blair (Darcy) of Troy, New York, and Barth (Judy) of Tiffin; by his three sisters, Marguerite ("Peg") Cannon, Evelyn Downie and Sarah ("Salle") Wallace, all now of Stevensville, Maryland; by 16 grandchildren, Dale, Beth, James, Edmund, Alexander, Matthew, Colleen, William, Austin, Alexis, Ashlynn, Danielle, Emily, Laurel, Benjamin and Katheryn; and by two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Elise. In addition to his parents and his wife Marjorie, Bill was preceded in death by his brother James.
Bill loved his wife and his family. He believed in the values of hard work, duty, friendship and thrift; these values were evident in the life that he lived and in the consistent example that he set for his children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Poland All Sports Booster Club, P. O. Box 5021, Poland, Ohio 44514 or to YMCA of Youngstown, Central Branch, 17 N. Champion Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503.
Calling hours will be Friday, September 6, 5:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturday, September 7, 9:30 to 10:30 am at Cunningham Becker Funeral Home, 270 North Main Street, Poland, Ohio. The funeral service will be Saturday, September 7, starting 10:30 am, in the Funeral Home. All are welcome. Interment at Poland Riverside Cemetery will follow the funeral service.
Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com .
Bill was preceded in death by his dear wife of over 62 years, Marjorie Germaine (Thomas) Downie, who passed away early this year. They married June 17, 1950.
Bill was born March 4, 1922 in Youngstown, Ohio, a son of James and Sarah (Wilson) Downie. He and his family lived initially on the West Side. Then the family moved to the South Side, into a home his father had built on Pinehurst Avenue. During the Depression, the family left the Youngstown area temporarily when Bill's father found work in upstate New York, returning to their Pinehurst Avenue home during World War II. Bill graduated in 1941 from Cuba Central School, Cuba, New York. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. He served aboard the U.S.S. Tarawa, and was discharged from active duty in 1946. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York in 1951.
Bill followed his father's footsteps into the construction business. In 1957 he founded W. E. Downie Co. The company remains active today. His wife Marjorie was his office manager. For many years his brother Jim was his business partner. Following retirement, Bill particularly enjoyed visiting construction sites because he always loved construction and the people connected with the business.
Bill worked hard to establish W. E. Downie Co. as a successful construction business, specializing in water and wastewater treatment plants and foundations and pump stations for water storage tanks. He was highly respected for his integrity and for the quality of his company's work, and he was well liked by the people who worked with him. Most of his jobs were located in the Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania areas, but, like his father before him, Bill would travel outside of these areas for construction work to support his business and his family. One job, possibly one of his favorites, was a wastewater treatment plant that he built in Cuba, New York, where he had graduated from high school.
Bill was an active member of the Poland All Sports Booster Club. In 2012 Bill and his wife received the Dr. Port Bulldog Spirit Award from the Booster Club. He was also a member of the Boardman Lions Club, Youngstown Shrine Club, and Poland Lodge No. 766, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the former Hillman Lodge No. 481, Free and Accepted Masons. Throughout his life, Bill maintained ties to his alma maters and to upstate New York. He was an active alumnus of both Cuba Central School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and he was a member of the Oriental Shrine Club, Troy, New York, and a 32nd degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Albany, New York.
In retirement, Bill stayed active and in contact with immediate and extended family and with his friends and community. He and Marjorie attended innumerable high school and college graduations, baptisms, First Communions, weddings, athletic contests and other events, very often traveling out of town to attend. He and Marjorie rarely missed his annual high school and U.S.S. Tarawa reunions. Bill was a regular at the Youngstown YMCA and in his various informal breakfast and dinner clubs. Every summer for over 20 years, he vacationed with his wife, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Five weeks ago, he was there again, surrounded by his loving family.
Bill is survived by his six sons, William J. (Jill) of Youngstown, Brian (Mary) of Washington, DC, Bruce (Carolyn) of Chagrin Falls, Brad (Sue) of Boardman, Blair (Darcy) of Troy, New York, and Barth (Judy) of Tiffin; by his three sisters, Marguerite ("Peg") Cannon, Evelyn Downie and Sarah ("Salle") Wallace, all now of Stevensville, Maryland; by 16 grandchildren, Dale, Beth, James, Edmund, Alexander, Matthew, Colleen, William, Austin, Alexis, Ashlynn, Danielle, Emily, Laurel, Benjamin and Katheryn; and by two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Elise. In addition to his parents and his wife Marjorie, Bill was preceded in death by his brother James.
Bill loved his wife and his family. He believed in the values of hard work, duty, friendship and thrift; these values were evident in the life that he lived and in the consistent example that he set for his children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Poland All Sports Booster Club, P. O. Box 5021, Poland, Ohio 44514 or to YMCA of Youngstown, Central Branch, 17 N. Champion Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503.
Calling hours will be Friday, September 6, 5:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturday, September 7, 9:30 to 10:30 am at Cunningham Becker Funeral Home, 270 North Main Street, Poland, Ohio. The funeral service will be Saturday, September 7, starting 10:30 am, in the Funeral Home. All are welcome. Interment at Poland Riverside Cemetery will follow the funeral service.
Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com .
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