Clovis Paul Downing

Clovis Paul Downing, Jr. May 18, 1922-November 11, 2006 Clovis Paul Downing, Jr. passed away Saturday, November 11, 2006 at home surrounded by family. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 14, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, with Rev. Curtis Holland and Rev. John Wheatley conducting the service. Burial will follow at Valley Mills Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, November 13, from 6 pm to 8 pm at Wilkirson-Hatch Bailey Funeral Home located at 6101 Bosque Blvd., Waco. C. P. was born May 18, 1922 son of Clovis Paul, Sr. and Mary Alma Turner Downing. C.P. grew up on the family ranch near Valley Mills, in Bosque County. In 1941, C.P. graduated from Valley Mills High School. He joined the U.S. Army-Air Corps in October 1942 and served until honorably discharged December 15, 1945. C. P. married Dorothy Winningham of Waco on April 22, 1943. In February 1946, C.P. started his construction company when he purchased a new Ford tractor. Downing Brothers Construction Co. grew to over 300 employees, with offices and facilities in Waco, Bryan-College Station and Kosse until it was sold to Redland Worth Inc. in 1985. At the time of his death, C.P. was a member of First Baptist Church of Valley Mills. For 50 years he was an active church member in the China Spring community. His church affiliation and relationship with Christ was very important to him. He was an ordained deacon. C.P. was an avid outdoorsman and rancher. Among his many hobbies were gardening, fishing, hunting, wood carving, wood working, golf and volleyball. He was one of the Charter members of the China Spring Lions Club. C.P. believed in giving back to the community through volunteering his time and resources. C.P. served on the China Spring School Board of Trustees for twenty years. He also served nine years on the board for Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. Mr. Downing was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Ted, Willis H., Joe, and Douglas. He is survived by Dorothy Downing, his wife of 63 years; sisters, Nallie Downing Lindberg of Valley Mills, Virginia Downing Way of Greenville, South Carolina; daughter Clova Gibson and husband, Ron of Valley Mills, son Randy Downing and wife Glenda of Monteagle, Tennessee; son Rodney Downing and wife Jean of China Spring; grandchildren Melet Gibson, Christie Fisher and husband Major Scott, Shane Downing and wife Kandi, Brady Gibson and wife Vanessa, Lt. Jordan Downing and wife Dawn, Beth Downing-Henslee, Micah Downing, Lauren Downing, Whitney Downing; and great grandchildren Katelynn, Ashtyn, Sarah, Andrew, Faith, Will, and Steven. He is also survived by extended family: a sister-in-law Hallene Downing of Valley Mills; a brother-in-law Elbert Winningham of Cartwright, Oklahoma; sisters-in-law and husbands: Wanda and William Gordon, Bee and Joe Cendrowski of Waco, Barbara and Bobby Bates of Waverly, Tennessee. He leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be: Brady Gibson, Shane Downing, Lt. Jordan Downing, Micah Downing, Clovis W. Downing, Carlton James, and Major Scott Fisher. Honorary Pallbearers will be all the former employees of Downing Company. The family would like to express their gratitude to the many Waco physicians and nurses and Hillcrest Hospice who gave professional and loving care to Mr. Downing during his lengthy illness. A special “Thank You” is given to Allie Fowler, Glenna Flowers, Janet Reed, Doris Scott, Justin May and Bill Crawford, his therapist, who faithfully and lovingly helped Mrs. Downing care for C.P. We are very grateful for your Christ-like care of Mr. Downing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Central Texas Senior Ministry or a charity of choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey