Obituaries
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Obituary for Richard James Downing
Richard James Downing, age 88, of Stratford, CT, beloved husband of Ruth (Fraboni) Downing, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2017 in Stratford. Mr. Downing was born April 27, 1929 in Braddock, PA, son of the late Joseph and Mary (Couch) Downing and had been longtime Stratford resident.
Richard was a graduate of St. Thomas High School in Braddock and married Ruth Fraboni on September 8, 1956. He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Korean War and was a retired Tileman for the Barbetta Tile Company.
He was an avid fan of UCONN Women’s Basketball, the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees. Richard loved to bowl and was always working on projects around the house and took great pride in taking care of his yard and Cadillac.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his two children, daughter Mary and son Richard and his wife Nancy; step-grandchildren Heather Waters (Tim) and Patrick Waters (Celia); step-great-granddaughter Teagan Rose Murray; sister-in-law Jean Downing of Slippery Rock, PA and brother-in-law Ed McMullen of East Pittsburgh, PA, along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Joe and Phil Downing; sisters Jane McMullen and Mary Caulfield and her husband Bernie; brother-in-law Joseph Fraboni and his wife Ann; son-in-law Troy Skene and close friend George Gombos and his surviving wife Maryanne.
Friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. by meeting directly at Saint Margaret’s Shrine, 2523 Park Ave., Bridgeport for a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with full military honors will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull.
Friends may visit with his family Sunday afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 310909, Newington, CT 06131, www.dav.org or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, www.giving.mskcc.org.
For additional information or to share a message of condolence, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
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Richard was a graduate of St. Thomas High School in Braddock and married Ruth Fraboni on September 8, 1956. He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Korean War and was a retired Tileman for the Barbetta Tile Company.
He was an avid fan of UCONN Women’s Basketball, the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees. Richard loved to bowl and was always working on projects around the house and took great pride in taking care of his yard and Cadillac.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his two children, daughter Mary and son Richard and his wife Nancy; step-grandchildren Heather Waters (Tim) and Patrick Waters (Celia); step-great-granddaughter Teagan Rose Murray; sister-in-law Jean Downing of Slippery Rock, PA and brother-in-law Ed McMullen of East Pittsburgh, PA, along with many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Joe and Phil Downing; sisters Jane McMullen and Mary Caulfield and her husband Bernie; brother-in-law Joseph Fraboni and his wife Ann; son-in-law Troy Skene and close friend George Gombos and his surviving wife Maryanne.
Friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. by meeting directly at Saint Margaret’s Shrine, 2523 Park Ave., Bridgeport for a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with full military honors will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull.
Friends may visit with his family Sunday afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 310909, Newington, CT 06131, www.dav.org or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, www.giving.mskcc.org.
For additional information or to share a message of condolence, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Richard James Downing, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
25
Jun
2:00 PM
- 5:00 PM
William R. McDonald Funeral Home
2591 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial
Monday
26
Jun
10:00 AM
Saint Margaret's Shrine
2523 Park Ave
Bridgeport, Ct 06604
Cemetery Details
Location
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Daniels Farm Rd.
Trumbull, CT 06611
Memorial Contribution
Disabled American Veterans
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