L. Wilson Downing, 88, of Brady’s Bend, went to be with the Lord Thursday evening, April 21, 2022 at UPMC Magee in Pittsburgh.
Wilson was born in East Brady on February 26, 1934. He was the son of the late Edward C. and Florence M. Shawl Downing.
Wilson was a 1954 graduate of East Brady High School. He was a long time member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Brady’s Bend and a member of the Knights of Columbus Emlenton Council. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Brady’s Bend American Legion Post and faithfully participated in the post’s joint funeral honor guard with the Chicora American Legion. For nearly a half century Wilson was a well-known and highly respected PIAA football and basketball official and continued officiating until he was 80 years old. He had been employed at INDSPEC in Petrolia and retired in 1994 as maintenance supervisor following 31 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine P. Olcus Downing, whom he married at St. Patrick Church in Brady’s Bend on January 24, 1959. Also surviving are two sons, Joseph W. Downing and his wife, Barbara of Bentleyville and John E. Downing ad his wife, Linda, of San Diego, CA; two grandsons, Luke C. Downing and Paul Joseph Downing, both of San Diego, CA; a sister-in-law, Blanche Downing of East Brady, as well as a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles E. and David H. Downing, and a sister, Dorothy Evelyn Slaugenhoup, as well as a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday. A funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Paul DeBacco, family friend and pastor of Crisswell Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Military honors accorded by the Brady’s Bend and Chicora American Legion Posts will follow from the funeral home. Interment will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Brady’s Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to Brady’s Bend American Legion Post, 975 PA 68, East Brady, PA 16028. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.