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Mt. Pulaski Times News, October 1, 1942

Clarence Downing Passes Away Suddenly

Death Came As Surprise to Friends

Clarence William Downing, resident of Mount Pulaski and vicinity most of his life, died at 4:20 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 1942, at the home of his brother, Ellis C. Downing, two miles northwest of Mount Pulaski, aged 55 years, 10 months and 3 days.

His illness was of short duration. He went to his brother's home last Friday morning, feeling ill at the time. Pneumonia set in and early Monday morning he suffered a stroke.

Mr. Downing was born Nov. 25, 1886, on the same farm where he died, a son of William H. and Eliza Harding Downing. He spent his boyhood days on the old home place, and after his marriage to Lena Drake operated a farm four miles northwest of the city for a few years. He later devoted his time to machine work, being interested in the garage business for a period of years, and before the time of the combine, operated thrashing machines, and did a great deal of machine repair work all over Logan county. During the past year he was employed in Petersburg, but just a few weeks ago returned to work for Everett Brooker. He was a member of the Mount Pulaski Odd Fellows lodge.

Decedent is survived by one son, Darwin Downing, who is in the U. S. Navy and stationed in Boston, Mass., and three brothers, Ellis C. and Ennis A., of Mount Pulaski, and Floyd Downing of Springfield.

The body was removed to the Schahl funeral home, and at 5 p.m. Tuesday was returned to the Ellis C. Downing home.

Funeral services were held in the Mount Pulaski Christian church at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. Wayne Staley. Two hymns, "Lead Kindly Light," and "Abide With Me," were sung by Mrs. Fred Mayer, Jr., and Mrs. Everett Beidler, with Mrs. Frank E. Turley Turley as organ accompanist. The Odd Fellows attended the service in a body.

Burial was in Mount Pulaski cemetery. The pallbearers were Claude W. Upp, Frank Rentachier, Albert Rentmeister, Harvey McCain, Charles Mann and Roscoe Humphrey.

Clarence Downing was my great uncle.