Brian Thomas Downing, age 73, of Marlton, NJ passed away peacefully while surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
Mr. Downing was born in Shalimar, FL and grew up in an Air Force family that called Ohio, Tennessee, Upstate NY, England, and France home over the years. Brian graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ohio University where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and majored in Finance and Accounting. He later earned an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University. During a long career in corporate finance with Mellon Bank, Airco, The BOC Group, Textron and Blodgett, Brian lived in Pittsburgh, PA, Ringwood, NJ, East Greenwich, RI and Charlotte, VT before retiring to Pinehurst and Waxhaw, NC and finally Marlton, NJ.
Brian was a proud Vietnam veteran and served his country honorably as a US Army officer, attaining the rank of Captain. He happily served as banker, coach, tutor, chauffeur, counselor, caddy and later bartender to his sons as they grew up. His favorite times were summer beach vacations with multiple generations of family. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed cheering on his favorite Philadelphia Phillies, even when they let him down. Brian loved life and celebrating any event with a Manhattan cocktail, and he delighted in social gatherings of any capacity with his coworkers, family and friends. He loved to laugh and make others laugh with an endless supply of jokes and personal stories and equally delighted in hearing the same from others. Wherever he went, he connected easily with strangers and never failed to leave people smiling. He will be deeply missed by all those he leaves behind. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Brian is survived by his beloved spouse of 51 years, Carroll Downing (née Foote); children, Christopher Downing (Wilma), Kevin Downing (Denise); brother, Bruce Downing (Donna); grandchildren, Brendan Downing, Connor Downing, Erin Downing, Caitlin Downing; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his older brother, Brendan Downing (Rosemary).
A visitation will be held on Monday, October 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Road, Mount Laurel, NJ. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM on Tuesday, October 13th at Our Lady Good Counsel RC Church, 42 W. Main Street, Moorestown, NJ. Final disposition will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Brian’s name may be made to:
the National Kidney Foundation at
https://www.kidney.org/
or to Jefferson University Hospital at
https://hospitals.jefferson.edu/
or to Our Lady of Good Counsel School at
https://www.olgc.me/