THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 16, 1996 TAG: 9610160342
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 28 lines
Oliver Keith Downing, RDCM, U.S. Navy (ret.), 74, of the 900 block of Norview Ave., died Oct. 12, 1996, in a hospital in Tamarac, Fla.
Born in Oto, Iowa, he retired from civil service as an electronic shop foreman at the Norfolk Naval Air Rework Facility. He was also retired as a master chief radarman from the U.S. Navy after 28 years service. During World War II, he proudly served on the USS New York as a gunner's mate in the shelling of Iwo Jima. He also served on the USS Wisconsin during World War II and later on the USS Northampton. He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, Fleet Reserve Association, Knights of Columbus Council 367 and Father Matthew J. O'Keefe Assembly where he served as a 4th Degree.
Survivors include his wife, Muriel A. Downing; three daughters, Judy Susag of Honolulu, Hawaii, Kathy Koontz and her husband, John, of Chesapeake, Betsy Johnson and her husband, Jim, of Clearwater, Fla.; a son, Vince Downing of Tamarac; a sister, Lola Ellison of Salix, Iowa; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday in Christ the King Catholic Church by the Rev. Joseph P. Lehman. A Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today in Smith and Williams Funeral Home, Norfolk Chapel. Burial with military honors will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to Christ the King Church.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB