William Downing

William Ellsworth Downing, 73, of Medford, Oklahoma, passed away on April 25, 2022 in Wakita. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Medford Church of the Nazarene. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Medford. There will be no public viewing. www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook:  Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Bill was born in Enid, Oklahoma to Ellsworth “Jack” Downing and Bertha McClaflin Downing on September 7, 1948. He attended Medford Public Schools, graduating from Medford High School as Salutatorian in May 1966. He married Marilyn Taber on August 23, 1969 in the Medford Church of the Nazarene. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bethany Nazarene College with a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. In 1970 he did his basic training for National Guard at the United States Army Training Center in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After basic training he was stationed at Fort Sill in Lawton. After college and his basic training, he moved back to Medford and worked with his father and brother in farm machinery sales and service. They also farmed locally in Grant County and custom harvested in Texas, Colorado, North Dakota, and surrounding states. He was awarded a plaque upon admission into the Million Dollar Dealers Club on April 15, 1976. He had loyal customers who he considered close friends. At 18, Bill received his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying his Cessna 182 for the following 35 years. He loved moving dirt with various bulldozers and took great pride in digging his many ponds. It will forever be a mystery to us whether he was digging ponds to later enjoy fishing or just wanted to spend his time moving dirt. He also enjoyed harvest, ATV’s, and hunting with his sons, grandsons, and close friend, Leon Subera. Despite his many passions, his greatest love was for his grandchildren.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Bertha Downing; sister, Jackie Downing; grandparents, Elmer and Lizzie McClaflin, and Harley and Maybelle Downing, and great niece, Mallary Herrera.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn; two sons, Billy Downing and wife, April, and Kurt Downing and wife, Tiffany. He is also survived by his two brothers and aunt, Steve Downing and wife, Linda, Kevin Downing and wife, Mary, and Alice Allen.  His grandchildren, Emma Downing and fiancé, Jarrett Ellis, Kale Downing and fiancé, Lindsey Halsted, Jackson Downing and fiancé, Cambri Moore, Kinley Downing, Olivia Downing, Kenah Downing, Grady Downing, Kye Downing, and Kru Downing all survive him as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Pallbearers will be Kale Downing, Jackson Downing, Grady Downing, Jarrett Ellis, Kevin Roney, Alen Misak, and Kru Downing. Honorary Pallbearers will be Steve Downing, Leon Subera, and Loren Mennem.

Memorials may be given to the Medford Church of the Nazarene or made to the Wakita Community Health Center with the memo reading Generator Fund through the funeral home.

The family of Bill Downing wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Jim Blunk, the nurses and staff of the CHC, Circle of Love Hospice, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Cooper, the staff of the St. Mary’s Wound Center, and Dr. Rashmi Vijayvargiya.