MARION — Gordon Parks Downer, 80, of Marion, MA, sadly passed away Thursday, September 29, 2011 after a long battle with COPD.
He was a llfelong resident of Marion, MA, and a son of the late Ernest Page Downer and Helen Hiller Downer.
He is survived by his brother Stephen H. Downer, Fredericksburg, VA, niece Susan L. Grigg, Marlton, NJ, nephew S. Page Downer, Fredericksburg, VA and niece Amy E. Hall, San Diego, CA, his beloved golden retriever Star and many cousins.
Gordon graduated from Wareham High School in 1951 and was a member of their Championship Football Team. He went on to the Army, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1956. He then went and received an Associate degree from Wentworth Institute and a BS degree from Northeastern.
Gordon spent most of his working years as a Methods Engineer and Industrial Engineer starting at Foxboro Instruments, where he solved numerous problems including inventing a part for one of their instruments. After retiring, Gordon worked part time at Office Max and most recently was a school bus driver. Gordon also performed odd jobs such as deck and shed building, as well as painting and wallpapering houses.
Memorial Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2011, in the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford, MA.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, P.O. Box 808, Hudson, MA 01749 or via their website at YGRR.org, click on "Donations