Merritt Downing

World War II Navy veteran was avid outdoorsman. Merritt Downing, 87, of Washington, died at 4 a.m. Saturday, April 4, 2009, in Donnell House, Washington, following a lengthy illness. He was born April 10, 1921, in New Castle, a son of Lucien M. and Sarah Morris Downing. Mr. Downing was a World War II Navy veteran, who served from November 20, 1942, to February 18, 1946, as a dive bomb pilot and maintenance engineering officer. He was awarded the World War II Victory Ribbon and the American Area Campaign Ribbon. Mr. Downing worked as a steel company executive for 22 years at Plasteel Products Corp. He was a member of Church of the Covenant for 43 years. Mr. Downing was a member of Keystone Lodge 455, F&AM of Erie, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Pittsburgh, Syria Temple AAONMS, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Iron and Steel Institute. He was a founder and three-time president of the Pennsylvania Ruff Grouse Society. He was a member of Lions Club of Green Tree, a city councilman for Green Tree and was on the executive board of Boy Scouts of America in Washington County. He was a clerk of sessions for 25 years. Mr. Downing was a member of Nemacolin Country Club for 25 years, Lone Pine Country Club for 10 years and Washington Country Club for three years. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and his beloved English setters. On November 2, 1944, he married Betty Simpson, with whom he celebrated 64 years of marriage. In addition to his wife, surviving are two sons, David (Tana) Downing of Marietta, Ohio, and Paul Downing of New Freeport; a daughter, Susan (Dan) Laney of Columbus, Ohio; and four grandchildren, Matthew and Jennifer Downing and David and Marrett Laney, all of Ohio. Deceased are three brothers, Wilbur, Lucien and Everett Downing; and two sisters, Vivian and Elizabeth, who both died as infants. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in Church of the Covenant, with the Rev. Stuart D. Broberg officiating. Entombment will follow in Washington Cemetery Mausoleum.