Donald George Downing

Donald George Downing, 93, was born on Dec. 21., 1925, in Newton, Massachusetts, where he lived until 1930. A child of the Great Depression, Don lived in New Jerey and then Long Island, New York, to live with relatives during the lean times. In 1935, his father, Albert S. Downing, landad a job as a controller with a Wampole Pharamaceutical Company in Philadelphia, and the family, which included his older sister Doris and his mother Rose, moved to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Don graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1944. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1948. He later received a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University in Philadelphia. Don was a life long member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Donald as married for 64 years to his "true love," Dora Anna Frattaroli. Dora also is a 1948 graduate of the University of Pennyslvania, but, much to Donald's chagrin, their paths never crossed in college. Instead, they met in 1953 at a dance in Philadelphia and were married two years later, on May 28.

Upon graduating from college, Dad joined Rohm and Haas, a chemical company that had more than 12,000 products, the best known of which were Plexiglas and acrylic chemicals used for paints, plastics and oil additives. Dad worked in research, production and eventually sales. As he advanced in the company, ultimately retiring as a National Sales Manager, he moved from Broomall, Pa., to Libertyville, Ill. Don retired from Rohm and Haas in 1991. During his 43 year career with Rohm and Haas, Don wrote or co-authored 12 technical publications and was assigned three patents pertaining to ion exchange. Today, Rohm and Haas is owned by Dow Chemical Co.

After retiring from Rohm and Haas, Don worked as a consultant for Wolcott Water Systems, a position he held until this past December. At the conclusion of Don's second career, he had worked for 70 of his 93 years.

In the 1990s, Donald and Dora moved from Libertyville, Illinois, to New Bern, North Carolina, where they lived until 2007. Don's final years were spent at the Heritage at Brentwood in Brentood, Tennessee. They were part of the "initial" class at the Heritage of 2007. At the Heritage, Don spent six years on the finance committee and helped run the annual Kentucky Derby Party. They also joined and loved East Brentwood Presbyterian Church,

Don had a lifelong love of travel and travel photography, was an avid reader of history and politics, valued his friendships, many of which were life long, and treasured his family and grandchildren forever and always.

Donald Downing is survived by his wife, Dora; and their two children and their spouses, Gary A. Downing, and his wife, Shannon O'Hearn Downing; his daughter, Andrea Downing Peck, and her husband, Capt. Scott R. Peck (USN-R); four grandchildren, Heather Peck Tyner, and her husband, Adam J. Tyner; Stephanie E. Peck, Clare M. Downing and Callan Ann Downing; and his beloved nephew, Alton B. Parker Daley III, and his wife, Cynthia.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Albert S. Downing and Rose M. Dickinson Downing, his sister, Doris M. Daley, and his mother-inlaw, Rose Frattaroli.

Our family wants to express its gratitude to East Brentwood Presbyterian Church Pastor John Hilley, as well as the staff at Somerfield Health Center at the Heritage, where my father spent his final three days.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to East Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 9000 Concord Rd, Brentwood, TN, 37027.