RAYMOND DOWNS
Nov. 7, 1933 - June 3, 2018
Raymond E. Downs, Sr. was born November 7, 1933, in Brawley, California. He passed away June 3, 2018, at the Life Center in Yuma, Arizona.
Raymond was born in Brawley, California to parents Ralph R. Downs and Hazel Downs. He attended Witter Elementary School beginning in 1939. His family moved to Niland in 1943, where his parents purchased a cocktail bar, restaurant and store. Mr. Downs entered the Brown Military Academy in San Diego, California for the fourth through eighth grades. He returned to Niland Elementary in 1947, graduating from Calipatria High School in 1953. Upon his graduation from High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps along with his best friends, Bill Currier, Bob Polen, Clinton Swanger and Wilbur Crockett. He has said that he thought the Marine boot camp at MCRD San Diego was going to kill him but the Marine Corps was the best thing he ever did for himself.
The Korean War conflict was going on at this time and he was sent to cold weather training. Mr. Downs served three years in the Marine Corps and is a Korean War veteran. After his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1956, he joined the California National Guard serving seventeen years. From 1978-1995, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare instructor, finally retiring as Sgt. First Class. Mr. Downs used his GI Bill to further his education receiving an Associate Degree in History from Imperial Valley College.
From 1958-1968, he worked wholesale liquor sales for McKesson and Robbins. From 1968-1989, he worked for Simon Levi Company responsible for retail sales in imperial County and parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties. During this time, he received many awards and was named Top Salesman in 1978, 1981, 1982, 1984, and 1985. He retired from sales in 1995.
Mr. Downs was President of the Niland Chamber of Commerce. From 2003 to 2010, he was on the Board of Directors for Sun Community Federal Credit Union. He served on the Veteran’s Committee for the Veterans Wall in Brawley, the North County Coalition of the Arts and was on the Grand Jury in 2005-2006. He is a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Calipatria and Sacred Heart Parish in Brawley.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and an infant son.
Mr. Downs is survived by his wife of 30 years, Norma; daughter, Michelle (Dan) Standerford; son, Raymond Downs Jr.; grandson, Andrew and granddaughter, Danielle; best friends, Bill Currier, Wilbur Crockett, Bob Polen, Mike Singh and Jim Hamilton.
A Viewing will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018, from 6 to 9 p.m., with Rosary being said at 7 p.m. at Frye Chapel and Mortuary in Brawley. Graveside services will be held on Friday, June 8, 2018, at Riverview Cemetery starting at 9 a.m. Luncheon will follow at the Stockmen’s Club, 275 Marjorie Avenue, Brawley, California.