White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Robert H. Downing, 81, years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, Iowa.  He was born on August 27, 1932, in Black Hawk County, Iowa, the son of George Powell and Bernice Arlene (Schrader) Downing.  He attended the Black Hawk County and Buchanan County country schools.  On February 22, 1951, he and the former Shirley Ann Brown were married in Independence, Iowa.  They later divorced.  Mr. Downing was a John Deere tractor mechanic at Cannon Implement in Rowley, Iowa, until retiring in 1987.  In his later years, he specialized in growing tomatoes and then canning what he grew.  He also enjoyed attending the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Mr. Downing is survived by 4 daughters, Gwen Decker of Independence, Iowa, Sandy Downing of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Linda (Mark) Main of Missouri City, Texas, and Susie (Donny) Bearbower of Jesup, Iowa, 2 sons, Robert T. Downing of Center Point, Iowa, and Jeff (Shannon) Downing of Muscatine, Iowa, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by 5 brothers, Clifford (Marian) Downing of Moberly, Missouri, Gene (Shirley) Downing of Warrenton, Missouri, David (Lila) Downing of Higbee, Missouri, Jim (Kay) Downing of Hillsboro, Missouri, and Roger (Jan) Downing of Lacrosse, Washington, and 3 sisters, Betty Sherrets of Independence, Iowa, Marian Rice of Moberly, Missouri, and Donna (Richard) Glynn of Waterloo, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Family and friends may call for visitation from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at the White Funeral Home in Independence, Iowa.  Mr. Downing’s cremated remains will be placed in the Cremation Garden at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence, Iowa.