Patrick Downing

Patrick “Joe” Joseph Downing, 85, of Slippery Rock Township, formerly of Pittsburgh, passed away at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the VNA Hospice, Butler.

Born in Braddock on March 20, 1927, he was a son of Patrick Joseph Downing and Mary Olive Couch.

He married Jean Anna Wise on Nov. 10, 1950.

He was a member of the St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Slippery Rock. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving with the Seabees during World War II and the Korean War.

He worked for J.S. McCormick in Pittsburgh. He started and served as the plant manager at J.S. McCormick in Boyers.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and vacationing at Myrtle Beach.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Downing; two daughters, Diane J. Duryea (husband Dr. David) of Slippery Rock and Patricia H. Pepper of Slippery Rock; one brother, Richard Downing (wife Ruth) of Stratford, Conn.; one sister, Mary Caulfield of West Mifflin; seven grandchildren, Megan Duryea- Santana (Andrew), Erin Duryea-Gilsbach (Timothy), Amanda Duryea-Wolf (Philip), Jeana Duryea Forrest (Matthew), Michael Duryea, Brian Pepper (Carrie) and Sara Pepper-Randolph; and nine great-grandchildren, Susan, Colleen and Anne Gilsbach, Madeline Santana, Noah and Jonah Pepper, and Brooklyn, Gavin and Landon Randolph.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Philip; and one sister, Jane McMullen.

DOWNING — Visitation for Patrick “Joe” Joseph Downing, who died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 670 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, with the Rev. Kevin Poecking, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.