Obituaries

Malcolm Downing

Photo of Malcolm Downing
Malcolm Downing of Bella Vista, Arkansas, passed away peacefully September 3, 2016 after a courageous and inspiring battle with pancreatic cancer. He never lost his sense of humor and good nature. He was born May 15, 1942 in Lincoln, New Hampshire to Sydney Paul and Jessie Elizabeth (Moody) Downing. He was preceded in death by his parents. Malcolm is survived by his wife, Deborah (Earnshaw) Downing of Bella Vista; she was his soulmate, constant partner, explorer, and adventurer of 46 years with whom he raised three wonderful children that he was so very proud of. His daughter, Lori Dean and her husband Hubert Dean of Sembach, Germany; his son, Matthew Downing and his wife Natsuko Downing of Queens, New York and son, Scott Downing and his wife Jennifer Downing of Yokosuka, Japan, his grandchildren, Lorin Deborah Dean, Jaxon Cole Dean, Claire Reina Downing, and Isaac Yoshito Downing. Malcolm graduated from Lincoln High School in Lincoln, New Hampshire in 1960. He then attended the Montana Schools of Mines in Butte, Montana. He joined the US Army from which he retired with the rank of Major. Malcolm received his Bachelors of Science in Education from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri and his Masters of Science in Educational Administration from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. Malcolm taught elementary school for several years in Webb City and Carterville, Missouri, Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Bentonville, Arkansas. He was also a school administrator in Easton, Kansas. He then went on to work for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools where he taught gifted education near Tokyo Japan, eventually retiring from West Point Middle School, New York in 2008. Malcolm loved supporting the military families by educating their children while they were stationed overseas. He and Deborah travelled extensively in Asia and Europe while eventually living in both places. Malcolm was a retired veteran having been commissioned at Fort Sill, Oklahoma after graduating from Officer Candidate School. He served as unit commander in Korea and Texas on active duty, and Missouri while in the Army Reserve. Throughout his life Malcolm was known for his inquisitive nature, for being an adventurer and traveler, a lover of science and all things natural, a constant learner, a tinkerer and builder, and never stopped finding the wonder in all things. He was intrigued by natural phenomena and how things work, and had a particular way of explaining that was especially suited to teaching which inspired in many of his students to pursue careers in science. He was also known for his beautiful whistling, an art that seems lost in this day and age, which garnered him many compliments throughout the years. Malcolm also enjoyed travelling, discovering new things, woodworking, fishing, antiquing, star gazing, hiking, mineral prospecting, just exploring, and spending part of the year at his waterside cottage in Conway, New Hampshire. He absolutely loved best, spending time with his wife, children, their families, and his longtime friends. He will be so greatly missed by many. A graveside memorial service with Military honors will be held under the beautiful New England fall foliage he so loved. He will rest at the Riverside Cemetery in Lincoln, New Hampshire, next to his parents. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to furthering pancreatic cancer research by donating to organizations such as The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital or the The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bella Vista. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

Published September 7, 2016

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