Donald B. Downs

Donald B. Downs Latrobe

Donald B. Downs, 76, of Latrobe, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, at home. Born July 21, 1931, in Derry, he was a son of the late George C. Downs Sr. and Bertha Berkmyer Downs. Prior to retirement, he was employed as a furnace operator by Newcomer Products, where he worked for 38 1/2 years. He was a member of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Cooperstown Vets, Slovak Club and the American Slovak Society. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia M. Crusan; three grandchildren, Westley J. Downs, David Downs and Patrick A. Crusan II; a sister, Barbara Patterson; and an infant sister. He is survived by his loving wife, Erma Lint Downs; two sons, Donald J. Downs, of Latrobe, and Joseph J. Downs, of Greensburg; two daughters, Barbara Shafron and her husband, Thomas, of Derry, and Michelle McManamy and her husband, Kenneth, of Latrobe; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three brothers, George C. Downs Jr., of Derry, Samuel Downs, of Latrobe, and Ernest Downs of Derry.Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the FREDERICK FUNERAL HOME INC., 1543 Ligonier St., Latrobe. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in Holy Family Roman Catholic Church. Interment in St. James Cemetery, Youngstown, Pa.