John Downs

In Loving Memory of John Owen Downs. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of beloved father and grandfather, John Owen Downs, who died at age 84 on Dec. 15, 2023, surrounded by the love of family and friends. John was born Aug. 26, 1939, in North Vernon, IN., where people still call him Jack or Moose for some reason. He was tall, strong, and a natural athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball in high school. He later auditioned for the Cincinnati Reds, though he didn’t make the cut. John went on to dedicate his life to his country, serving 42 years in the U.S. Air Force, 21 years as an active-duty member and 21 years as a civil servant, and only retiring when he became the primary caregiver for his wife, who had Alzheimer’s disease. Colleagues remember his integrity, strong work ethic, and for being the first one in the office each day and the last one to leave. Beyond work, John enjoyed golfing, attending sporting events, and listening to one baseball game on the radio while watching another one on TV. He was an enthusiastic volunteer at the Air Force Museum and could rattle off facts about every plane. An avid reader of thrillers and Western novels, John once took his family on a road trip through Pierre, SD., to see if he could locate a café mentioned in a Louis L’Amour novel. (He did.) He was preceded in death by his spouse, Heide-Marie Downs; his sister, Nell Ann (Downs) Pfeifer, and his parents. He is survived by his children, Monica (Jeffrey) Klarer, Mark (Cheryl) Downs, and Margaret (Jason Yasuda) Downs; nephew, Tony (Lynne) Pfeifer, niece Kathy (Mike) Malone as well as 6 grandchildren; John, Samuel, Amanda, Autumn, Allison, Everest, and 5 great-grandchildren. A celebration of John’s life will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 4:00-6:00pm at Adkins Funeral Home in Enon. Friends and family are invited to join together to share memories and offer support. A funeral mass will be held at St. Peter’s church in Huber Heights, on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 10:00am. A private burial will be held at a later time at Dayton National Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in John’s name to Honor Flight Dayton, 200 Canary Court, Enon, Ohio 45323 or honorflightdayton.org. Your kindness will help continue the legacy of generosity that John embodied throughout his life.

John Downs

August 16, 1939 - December 15, 2023