Downs, Robert Elston (1906-1966)

DOWNS, COTTINGTON, BEROGAN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 9/17/2023 at 17:55:09

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Friday, October 21, 1966

R.E. (Elston) Downs, 60, prominent Webster City area farmer, died suddenly Thursday evening at his home five and one-half miles northwest of Webster City. His death was attributed to a heart attack.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Foster Funeral home with the Rev. Harry T. Ehlers of Ames officiating. Burial will be in the Graceland cemetery where graveside Masonic services will be held.

Robert Elston Downs, son of Robert R. and Faith Cottington Downs, was born Oct. 13, 1906 on the Downs family farm northwest of Webster City. He was educated in the Webster City schools and was graduated in 1924. He attended Iowa State College at Ames for one year.

He was united in marriage Sept. 12, 1930 to Mary E. Berogan. He was employed by the Iowa State Highway Commission and the family resided at Correctionville and at other points in Iowa for several years during his association with the commission.

In 1943, the family returned to Webster City and engaged in farming on the Downs family farm, the family home since.

He is survived by his wife; five sons, Jerry R. Downs, Fountain Valley, Calif., Joe L. Downs, Louisburg, Kan., Jon A. Downs, Concord, Calif., James and Jeffrey Downs, both at home; his mother, Mrs. Robert D. Downs, Webster City, and three grandchildren, Rebecca Lynn, Jennifer Lynn and James Jeffrey Downs.

He was preceded in death by his father in July, 1951, by a sister, Harriet Rebecca, who died in infancy.

Mr. Downs was a member of the St. Paul's Universalist church, was chairman of the board of trustees and chairman on the Iowa Universalist Convention. He was past master of Acacia Lodge, a member of the Hope chapter and chairman of the Masonic Temple board. He was also a past president of the Hamilton county Farm Bureau and had served as a commissioner of the Hamilton County Soil Conservation Service. He was a board member and chairman of the former Hamilton County Seed association. He was a board member of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Association of Webster and adjoining counties, and was an insurance agent for the association in this area.