LANCASTER
Robert Towle Downs, Jr., 79 passed away peacefully at Clinton Hospital on Wednesday, February 8, 2017. He was born on October 7, 1937 to Robert Towle Downs and Rose (Krupa) Downs. Bob entered this world sharing his father’s name and his birth date, as well. He would later aspire to prove that he shared his mother’s talent for telling stories, not fairy tales and fables, but rather family histories and legendary anecdotes; he excelled at that endeavor.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Patricia (Mills) Downs of Lancaster; his children, Wendy (Downs) Szymborski of Somerset, NJ, Robert Towle Downs III and his wife, Lora of Frederick, MD, Sheri (Downs) Magdaleno of Somerton, AZ, Debra (Downs) Dittmeier and her husband, Raymond of Sioux Falls, SD; his step-children, Earle Cadoret, Jr., and his wife, Ellen of Florida, Patricia Cadoret Prichard and her husband, Jeffrey of Lancaster, Cathleen Cadoret McClure and her husband, James of Orlando, FL, Michael Downs and Crystal Anderson-Grose of Lancaster, and Nancy (Downs) Delvecchio and her husband, Derek of Marlboro; his siblings, Carol (Downs) Light and her husband, Alfred “Jack” , and MaryJean “Jeannie” (Downs) Russell all of Pennsgrove NJ, ; his grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Scott Szymborski, Samuel and Nadya Downs, Daniel and Roselia Magdaleno, Luke and Natasha Dittmeier, James Cadoret, Jessica and Brandon Prichard, Andrea, Kimberly and Daniel McClure, Anamika and Rylan Downs, Cody Delvecchio; five great-grandchildren, Jackson, Caleb, Reese, Werner, Lyra and Skye Prichard; nieces, nephews, cousins and a tremendous number of friends. He will be missed immensely and loved eternally by all those who survived him.
Bob grew up in and attended school in Pennsgrove, NJ, where he graduated with the class of 1956. His aptitude for art and knack for running track became foreground during his collegiate years at Kutztown University, PA, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education in 1961. Bob went on to earn accolades for his graphic art and computer programming at both IBM and Lockheed. He’s created beautiful wall murals all over southern New Jersey in restaurants and country clubs. Those were things, not often discussed, due to his humble nature. He had rare talents like being able to get items in the claw crane machines, which he’d always give to the children, or predict, with one hundred percent accuracy, what sex an unborn child would be. Luck you say? He possessed that too. He won thousands in scratchers through the years and the winnings were always shared with those he loved.
He found great pleasure dressing up as Santa Claus each Christmas, reigniting the magic and joy in adults and children alike. Bob had such an affinity and respect for nature; it was a rare event, a divine return of respect. Truly it was no coincidence he was called home, Wednesday evening when the moon was full in the sky, perfect conditions for night drum fishing with his father, mother and younger brother Thomas “Tom” Downs, all who preceded him in death.
Special thanks to his daughter, Sheri for writing this tribute for her father.
A calling hour will be held on Tuesday, February 14, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Tighe Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central Street, Hudson. Funeral Services for Bob will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will take place at St. Michael’s Cemetery.