Walter Eugene Downs

Obituary

Walter Eugene Downs, 83, of Claremore, Oklahoma, passed from this earth to eternity on May 16, 2022.
Walter was born on December 25, 1938, in Chimney Rock Holler, Oklahoma (near Salina, OK). He was the son of the late Oliver Frances and Melba Aleta (Garrett) Downs. Walter attended school at Sequoyah, Foyil, Catoosa and then Claremore, Oklahoma.
Walter entered the U.S. Army in 1958 at the age of 19 years old. He was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He was reactivated in late 1961 during the Cuban missile crisis, with deployment to Ft. Polk, Louisiana.
Walter was united in marriage to Connie Sue Davis on October 23, 1958, in Pryor, Oklahoma. They were the proud parents of two boys, Michael Eugene and Darrell Wayne Downs. Walter was further blessed with six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Walter loved his family and friends. He was a man of many talents, working on automobiles, lawn mowers, building barns and carports, wheelchair ramps and even doll houses. He was an aircraft welder and later an operator of the second electron beam welder in the United States. He then moved into quality inspection, conducting x-ray and ultrasound inspections for Automatic Welding. Walter worked at TK International and Nordam, finishing his career at Pratt & Whitney.
Walter spent much of his time with a fishing pole in the water in search of crappie! He loved taking his grandsons on his fishing trips, visiting with his granddaughters, and playing with his great grandbaby, Tallulah.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Connie in 1987. He was also preceded in death by his sisters Della Frances Lepley, Delores Jean Downs and Helen Lorene “Sissy” Downs, and brother James Allen Downs.
Left to cherish memories of Walter are sons Michael and wife Shelly of Claremore, Oklahoma; Darrell and wife Tracy of Owasso, Oklahoma. He is also survived by sister Evelyn Hart of Chelsea, Oklahoma and brother Ray Oliver Downs of Rogersville, Missouri; grandchildren, Charlotte Michelle Elwyn and husband Sheach of Norman, Oklahoma, Sarah Suzette Downs of Claremore, Oklahoma, Grant Jefferson, Mason Stuart and Kathryn Anne Downs, all of Owasso, Oklahoma, and Jackson Ross Downs of Salt Lake City, Utah; great-grandchildren Tallulah and Clementine Elwyn; as well as many nieces and nephews.
A family visitation will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 6-8:00 pm at Rice Funeral Service located at 631 East Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore, Oklahoma.
A graveside memorial is scheduled for Monday, May 23, 2022, at 11:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery in Claremore, Oklahoma under the direction of Rice Funeral Service.

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