Joe Downing

Joe Leland Downing, 80, of Waco, passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2005. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Pamela Dykehouse officiating. Burial will be in the Valley Mills Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque.
Joe was born July 30, 1924 in Valley Mills to Clovis P. and Mary Alma (Turner) Downing, Sr. He graduated from Valley Mills High School, then at 19 years of age married 17-year -old Edith Alexander. August 2, 2005 would have marked their 62nd Wedding Anniversary. In 1947 brother C.P. Jr. invited Joe to become his partner in his paving business, forming Downing Brothers. Their company created many streets in Waco. Working at their shop on North 4th when the 1953 tornado hit, they were some of the first citizens to respond, providing and operating their own equipment to aid in the rescue and clean up efforts.
In 1963 Joe sold his share of the business and started Tonk Products, a limestone plant, in Crawford, TX. He retired in the early 1990's but the plant, now Franklin Minerals, still continues to operate today.
Joe kept busy in retirement with the work that he loved on his land and taking care of his yard. He toiled all his life looking after his family, friends and pets. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He never shied away from a hard job and taught something to everyone who worked alongside him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, W.H. (Willis) Downing and Douglas Downing; and half brother, Ted Carraway.
Surviving are his wife, Edith (Alexander) Downing; son, Glenn Downing and wife, Laura Beck; daughters, Jann Schropshire and husband, Chris, and Dianne Downing Moore and husband, Jim, all of Waco; brother, C. P. (Clovis) Downing Jr. of China Spring; sisters, Nallie Lindberg of Valley Mills and Virginia Way of Greenville, S.C.; grandchildren, Jennifer Hill, Lauren Moore, and Christopher Schropshire; and great-grandchildren, Mi'Kayla, Michael, Seth, and Trey.