Rollie Arthur Downing 1896-1980

DOWNING, CUNNINGHAM, KROLL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/27/2009 at 21:56:15

Mapleton Press
11 December 1980

Rollie Arthur Downing, 84, of Ute, died on Saturday, December 6, 1980 at a hospital in Sioux City following a short illness.

Services were held on Tuesday, December 9, at the United Methodist Church in Ute, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. Pastors Dennis Bailey and Leo Campbell officiated. Burial was in the St Clair Cemetery at Ute. Arrangements were under the direction of the Walter Funeral Home of Ute.

Mr Downing was born on April 15, 1896 at Ute to Charles and Emma (Cunningham) Downing. He grew up in the Ute area. He spent two years in the service in World War II. On April 14, 1922 he married Hazel Kroll on Omaha, Nebraska. He lived in Sioux City for many years, returning to spend his later years in Ute. He was a 50 year member of the Ute American Legion Andy Post #442 and a past director of the Ute Public School Board. In 1978 a song was published that he had written called, "Prayer in the Morning". He was a musician and played with a dance orchestra.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel of Ute, two sons, Robert of Attos, California and James of Sioux City; one brother, Ted of Sun City, Arizona; six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and six brothers.

Pallbearers were members of the American Legion Post of Ute, Louis Sanders, Lloyd Olson, Warren Thompson, Archie Mahony, Eldon Teut and Wade Cooper.