Ben Raymond Downen, age 89, of Moscow, TN, departed this life early Wednesday morning, September 28, 2016 at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis.
The widower of Clarice Williams Downen, who died on December 13, 1992, he retired in 1966 from the US Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class and also had owned several service stations. Additionally, he worked as a commercial painter and at Western Mental Health Institute for 2 years. He was born May 25, 1927 in Hickory Valley, son of the late Murray and Hattie Williams Downen and lived in Memphis and in Fayette and Hardeman Counties except for his time in the US Navy, which totaled 23 years. While serving his country, he was in three wars, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, and survived 3 different liberty ships sinking underneath him. Mr. Downen was a Southern Baptist in belief.
Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Gail Downen of Memphis; two sons and their wives, Barry W. Downen (Vera) of Somerville and Mark S. Downen (Becky) of Hickory Valley; a sister, Katharyn Parker of Memphis; 4 grandchildren, John, Joseph & Brett Downen and Whitney Evans; 3 Great Grandchildren; and his loving companion, Mae Moore of Moscow, TN. In addition to his wife and his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Charlotte Ann, who was 6 days old; 3 sisters, Clestie Hopper, Agnes Rachilla and Hugholene Pennington; and 3 brothers, Ted, Warren and Julien Downen. Memorial contributions in Mr. Downen’s name may be made to the First Baptist Church in Grand Junction, The Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org/donate), or the American Heart Association (heart.org/donate).
