DOWNES, James Edward Jr. - Of Weston, May 28. Beloved husband of the late Ellen (Manahan) Downes. Devoted father of J. Edward Downes III & his wife Devreaux of Wayland, David Downes & his wife Kate of Hanover, Ellen T. Downes of Wellesley, Susan Downes Thomson & her husband Neil of Idledale, CO, Robert Downes of Highlands Ranch, CO, Leslie C. Downes of Stamford, CT & Christopher Downes & his wife Joanna of Framingham, Cherished grandfather of J. Edward IV, & his wife Janette of Dunedin, FL, Michael L. & his wife Tara of Duxbury, William B. of Wayland, Margaret N. of Rockland, Brigid S. of Hanover, & Jussarah Franco of Framingham. Loving great grandfather of Melissa, Jessica, Tess, Shannon & Maeve. Loyal brother to Rose D. Arnold of Arlington, Richard H. Downes of Stoneham & the late Thomas M. of Winchester & Philip G. Downes of Albuquerque, NM.
Graduate of the Country Day School for Boys, Newton. Harvard '35 & Harvard Law School '38. WW II Lt. Col. who served from 1941-1946 in Algeria, Italy, France, Germany & Austria. In April 1945 he became Commanding Officer of the 93rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He received the American Defense Medal, 6 Campaign Stars, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, the Bronze Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, WW II Victory Medal & the Army of Occupation in Germany Medal. After the war, he joined Downes Lumber Co., Boston, which was founded by his father James Edward Downes in 1899 & was Vice President & Treasurer before his retirement in 1972.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rte. 16) WELLESLEY, Saturday, June 4th at 9 a.m. Funeral Mass in St. Julia Church, Weston Ctr, at 10 a.m. Relatives & friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Friday, June 3rd from 4-7 p.m. Interment Linwood Cemetery, Weston. Donations may be made to the Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114 or to Childrens Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115.