MSSA US NAVY
VIETNAM

It is with heavy hearts that we share with you the passing of William Clifford Downs. William was born June 16, 1954 and passed away May 4, 2020. William was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. William was born in Battle Creek, Michigan to parents Ernest Clifford Downs and Donna Mae Hicks Downs. He has one older sister Precious Kathleen and two brothers Clarence Lloyd and Robert Delwin. His family moved to Loma Linda, California when he was five years old. William was raised in the Seventh Day Adventist church and Pathfinders. William Graduated from Redlands Senior High School in 1972.

In 1973 he joined the United States Navy as a Mess Management Specialist and then specialized as a cook. William gained a love for cooking from his mother Donna. William entered many cooking contests when he was in high school and won several awards. He served in the Navy until August 1976. In September 1976 he began dating Valerie and they married three years later in February 1979. He became a cross country truck driver and made hauls for 25 years. In April 1981 they welcomed their first child, Corey William Downs. Three years later in September 1984 they welcomed their second son, Zachary Clifford Downs. Finally, in October 1988 they welcomed their finale and only daughter JoaniMae Darlene Downs.

William loved the outdoors and camping. When Corey and Zach were young he ran their Cub Scouts and Boy Scout troop. Bill and Valerie became the Campus Hill Pathfinder directors in 1997 until 2007 when they moved up to become the San Bernardino County Coordinators for Adventurers. Bill taught many crafts to children and adults. He always looked like Santa but during the holidays he loved putting on his suit and bringing smiles to everyone's faces. He often volunteered to be Santa at nursing homes. Bill shared his smile and love of Christ with every person he came in contact with. He earned the nickname, Dr. Love while on a mission trip to Baja because he would tell people, “I’m Dr. Love and I Love you.” This carried with him through his servitude in Pathfinders and Adventurers. He volunteered at the kid’s schools and helped with various art projects and chaperoned choir and band outings. William loved art and went back to school to study art education, receiving his BA in 2006.

In September, 2008 William became a Papa to Brody Kilian Downs. He would say, “There is no better joy than my grand baby.” In 2010 he welcomed his second grandson, Kohen Anthony. In 2012 his sweet Shelby Ray was born. In 2017 Sylas Porter made his entrance and in March 2020 Hudson Earnest made his debut. William will forever be remembered for his love of his family, his Jesus and those around him. He loved to play his harmonica and especially the song, “He touched me.” He never liked to see anyone frown, he would always try to tell a joke to cheer them up.

William is survived by his wife of 41 years, Valerie, His son Corey and wife Corie Jean, His son Zachary and wife Brande, His daughter JoaniMae and husband Larry, His five cherished grand babies; Brody, Kohen, Shelby, Sylas and Hudson, his sister Kathy, his brother Clarence, and multitudes of cousins, nephews and nieces. William would not want to see any of us down, he had such faith in Christ and going home to be with Jesus.

John 16:22, “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take your joy away.”

Services are pending the reopening of Riverside National Cemetery due to the pandemic.

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