Southampton-Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Downing, Thomas V. Sr., 1987 

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THOMAS VICTOR DOWNING

   Augusta, Ga. - Thomas Victor Downing Sr., 94, died Sept. 22, 1987, in a 
hospital. A native of Washington County, Md., he was a former resident of Ivor, 
Va.

   He helped organize the first Ruritan Club in Holland, Va., in 1928, and 
served as its national secretary for 25 years. The Ruritan Club began as a club 
for farmers and small-town businessmen with rural interests.

   He also helped organize more than 200 Ruritan clubs throughout the southeast. 
Earlier in 1987, Ruritan National established the Tom Downing Fellow Award, a 
scholarship fund, in his honor.

   Downing earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the 
University of Maryland, and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from 
Cornell University.

   He was an Army veteran and served as a second lieutenant in France during 
World War I under the command of General John J. Pershing.

   Downing’s career in vocational agriculture spanned 38 years and included 
teaching vocational agriculture in Northampton County. He served as district 
supervisor of vocational agricultural education with the State Department of 
Education and was promoted to assistant state supervisor of vocational 
agricultural education, a position he had until retirement in 1958.

   He was a former member of Ivor United Methodist Church and a member of St. 
John’s United Methodist Church. He was the widower of Jonnie Matthews Downing.

   Survivors include a daughter, Jeanne D. Reynolds of Aiken, S.C.; two sisters, 
Lolita D. Brown of Allentown, Pa., and Louelle D. Wolfinger of Chambersburg, 
Pa.;  five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

   The funeral will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. in Ivor United Methodist 
Church by the Rev. Garry J. Shelton. Burial will be in Ivor Cemetery.

   The family will be at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, Va., Saturday from 
11:30 to 12:30 p.m. and after the burial at Ivor United Methodist Church.

   Memorial donations may be made to Ivor United Methodist Church, Ivor, Va. 
23866, or Ruritan National Foundation, P.O. box 487, Dublin, Va., 24084.


[Thomas Victor DOWNING, Sr., former resident of Ivor, 
 Washington Co., MD native, d. 22 Sep 1987, age 94, 
 interred in Ivor Cemetery, 26 Sep 1987, 
 "The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Sep. 24, 1987] 

[file transcribed by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
 and re-formatted by File Manager.]