William Spencer Downing |
| Posted 2021-08-17 by mhenderson |
| Published in the Parker Pioneer on Aug. 18, 2021 - Parker, Arizona (personal article, page 5) William Spencer Downing died on Monday, August 9, 2021, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. He was surrounded by his loving wife and three children. He left this world at exactly 3:29pm. Ironically Will served in the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery (3-29 FA) from 2007- 2011 and likely saw it fitting to take his last breath at 3:29pm. This world became brighter when he was born on October 22, 1971, at Ireland Army Hospital, Fort Knox, Kentucky. His family moved to Salome, Arizona in 1980, where Will lived until he graduated from Salome High School in 1990. He played every sport in high school and played them all well. He was a cowboy and a musician, accomplished at roping, riding, and breaking horses as well as playing the guitar and piano. He learned to speak both Spanish and Portuguese and was secretly a beautiful singer. Will received a preferential nomination to the United States Military Academy from Representative Bob Stump. He completed his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at West Point in 1994. While at West Point, he was a pitcher on the baseball team and an outside linebacker for the Army Black Knights football team Will proudly served in the U.S. Army until 2017. He retired as a Colonel. He completed four overseas tours, including to Korea for a year in 2005, to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 27NOV2007 to 15FEB2009 and again from 15MAR2010 to 13MAR2011 in support of Operation New Dawn and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 15NOV2012 to 28JUL2013. While in the Army, Will was repeatedly recognized, both formally by his superiors and informally by those he led, as an exceptional officer who led by example. His ability to inspire others and foster morale was unmatched, and his dedication was formidable. He strove for excellence in all that he did, and it shows in the countless decorations, medals and awards he has been given. Will met the love of his life, Amy (Buzzard) by happenstance in the Legendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville, TN. They danced and laughed the night away, and he gave her the nickname "Lucky." It was so evident that they were meant to be, that Amy and her close friend stayed up all night and wrote a song about the encounter. Wishfully thinking, the song ended with Will and Amy falling in love and getting married. Little did they know that dream would "indeed" come true. They joined their families and were united in holy matrimony in a private ceremony on October 16, 2002. They later celebrated with a fairytale wedding on January 4, 2003 and Will cherished both as the days he married his best friend. This attitude, integrity, and posture of service has shone through in all areas of his life, not only in his military career. He was a husband in love with his wife, a father dedicated to his kids, a son who honored his parents, a brother always there for his sisters, and a fiercely loyal friend. He was a Godly man and a role model to all who knew him. He lived God, Family, Country. Will was the solid rock on which the family stood. Through deployments and relocations, good times and bad, he never wavered in his deep love and devotion to Amy and their children. After his extraordinary military career, retirement found them back in Missouri, where he and Amy purchased her family restaurant (Buzz's BBQ) and Will found his second true calling... 'Coach' Downing joined the ranks of Nevada High School Football in 2017 and was set to begin his 5th season as Linebacker Coach on the day he passed. Just as he had led his troops in the Army, he led, mentored, fathered, and LOVED each of his players, season after season. The legacy he leaves with them is one of dedication, faith, integrity, hope and strength. Sharing the field with his son, JD and the rest of his Tigers were some of his proudest moments in life. His inclusion of and love for each and every one of the boys was something we hoped would live in their hearts for eternity. #everyplayer #everyplay Will's favorite Bible verse was 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." He didn't just believe this, he lived it. He was a dedicated member of Lifewalk Church in Nevada, where he sat proudly every Sunday beaming at his wife as she performed with the praise band. A man of God and a follower of Jesus, Will is gone from this earth, but he lives with the Father in Heaven. His love for our Lord was unwavering and there is no doubt he is resting peacefully at his Father's side waiting on us to join him. Truth be told, he's probably already given God a nickname... Those of us who love Will are going to feel the pain of his absence for the remainder of our earthly lives. We will never forget him - the integrity he modeled in both public and private, the relentless love and protection he offered to those at his side, the joy of his infectious laugh and his mischievous sense of humor, the kindness of his eyes and the patience of his love. But we also cling to the hope and knowledge that this is not the end of the story. Will is survived by his wife Amy; his children Mac, Ashlyn, and JD; his parents Jim and Clare; his sisters Kathryn and Jamie and their husbands Tyler and Grant; his mother in-law, Mary; brothers in law Matt and Doug; his nephews Kylan, Ricky, Finlay, and Ransom and nieces Heather, Natalie and Grace. He was preceded in death by his father in- law Jim and his nephew, Royce Quill. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in Nevada. Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Ft. Scott National Cemetery, Ft. Scott, KS. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at Ferry Funeral Home. See Also: Find A Grave |
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