Submitted by: John C. Monk

Neil D. Downey

Jan. 18, 1925 - Dec. 19, 2009
WALKERTON - Neil Dean Downey, 84, of Walkerton, IN, passed away Saturday, December 19, 2009, in his home after an illness. Neil was born January 18, 1925, in Leon, Iowa, to Arthur and Eva (Rumley) Downey, and had lived in the area since 1940, coming from Leon, Iowa. On December 19, 1946, in Walkerton, IN, he was married to Edna Walter. Survivors include his wife, Edna; two daughters, Ardene (Ron) Bellinger of Walkerton and Karen Badgley of Koontz Lake; one son, Dale (Julie) Downey of Walkerton; 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mildred Berry and Dixie (Robert) Janney, both of Canton, Missouri; and one brother, Sam Downey of Bryan, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, Doyle Downey. Neil was the owner of Metal Building Maintenance of Walkerton. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WW II, serving on the USS Pennsylvania. He received many awards while serving during WW II, including the Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (4 star) and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon (2 star). He was a member of Walkerton American Legion Post #189 and the Lake County Wood Carvers of Florida. He was also a member of the Walkerton United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) in the Rannells Funeral Home, Koontz Lake Chapel. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery where military graveside services will be conducted by the Walkerton American Legion. Friends may call Tuesday 4:00-7:00 p.m. EST and Wednesday one hour prior to the services in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Walkerton American Legion Post #189 or to the Walkerton United Methodist Church.

Published in South Bend Tribune on December 21, 2009