DOWNER, Glenda

The White Mountain Independent Show Low, Arizona ~ 12/18/2009 Glenda Downer died peacefully in her sleep Dec. 14, 2009, at the home of her son Elon M. (Lonnie) Downer Jr. in Eagar with her family around her. She was born Oct. 10, 1921, fifth child to George and Effie Wiltbank of Eagar, the place she always loved and where she came back to live after her husband passed away in 2003. She loved to reminisce about her early days growing up, playing guitar with her beloved brothers, Alden and Glenn Wiltbank. They played many happy nights together entertaining family and friends at the local dances from Alpine to Greer and at their get together at Grapevine Hall in Eagar. Glenda met and married "her handsome" Elon M. Downer Sr. of Prescott while working in the Goodyear Aircraft plant in Goodyear. Together they loved and raised six wonderful children, Elon M. (Midge) Downer Jr., JoAnne (Harold) Schulz, Wilma (Jim) Messiti, Edward (Gayle) Downer, Ronald (Keri) Downer and Laura (Roy) Torres. She also leaves behind 18 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Her sister Fay Wiltbank Pase is now the last surviving child of George and Effie May Butler Wiltbank, who were some of the original pioneers to settle in the Round Valley area. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at the National Memorial VA Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. She will be buried with her beloved husband, Elon. To leave an online condolence, visit www.burnhammortuary.com.