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John Downs was born in ENGLAND in 1921. In Rye his family lived at 55 Meadow Place and were members of the Presbyterian Church. John was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1938. He enlisted in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
John Downs Jr.
John Downs Jr. was born in ENGLAND on April 19, 1921. In Rye his family lived at 55 Meadow Place. John was raised by his father John Sr., his mother Anne, and his older sister Margaret. John’s father had a high school education, and worked as a butcher. John’s mother had a high school education, and was a homemaker.
John was a proud member of the Rye High School class of 1938. In high school, John was a 3 sport athlete, consisting of football, baseball, and basketball. John would find time to actively participate in the ping-pong club, and athletic club.
After high school, John took up a job as a handyman, before being drafted into the Army and serving with the 2759th Army Engineer Combat Battalion(Pictures). The unit supported the 7th Army in fighting in France and Germany. On the attack or on the defense,  engineers led the way!
During World War II, U.S. Army combat engineers were at the spearhead of fighting in all theaters, whether the battlefield was North Africa’s desert sands, Normandy’s fire-swept Omaha Beach, the Ardennes’ snowclad forest, or the Pacific’s jungle-covered islands. The 700 engineer battalions mobilized during the war repeatedly proved to be vital components to Allied victory on all fronts. Both on the attack and on the defense, engineers led the way. During John’s military career, he had obtained the rank of First lieutenant.
Following the war John married the love of his life, Margaret Johnson in 1947. In 1948 Margaret gave birth to their first son John, and would later give birth to their second son James.
John put in 30 years of exceptional work at combustion engineering inc. in Windsor CT. However John and his wife wanted to settle down in Irvine CA, where John would put in 12 more years working for Fluor Constructors, Inc. of Irvine, CA. John retired, and enjoyed a peaceful life until he passed away on September 7, 1991. At the time he was survived by his wife, Margaret, and his 2 sons, John and James.
DOWNS John, Jr., 70 passed away September 7, 1991 at a local hospital. A resident of Pompano Beach, he was a graduate of Rye High School, Rye, NY, Class of 1938. He served his country in WWII as a First Lieutenant, 2759th Army Engineer Combat Battalion. Employed by Combustion Engineering, Inc., of Windsor, CT for 30 years and Fluor Constructors, Inc. of Irvine, CA for 12 years. He is survived by his wife, Margaret June Downs, two sons, Major John J. Downs, USA Retired of Watertown, NY and James R. Downs of Wanaque, NJ. He Is also survived by his sister, Margaret M. Jones of Ft. Pierce, FL and two grandchildren. Private Services were held with the family. In his memory, please make donations to the American Heart Association, BAIRD CASE FUNERAL HOME 4343 N. Federal Hwy. Ft. Lauderdale 305-492-4000 South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
10 Sep 1991, Tue Page 18
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71557629/obituary...
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