David William Downing

A Memorial Service honoring the life of David William Downing will be held Sunday, January 7, 2018, 3pm at Fellowship Bible Church, 540 E Twin Springs St, Siloam Springs, AR 72761. David was 77.

David William Downing was born on August 11, 1940 to the late Ivy Ambrose and Kenneth Lee Downing in Oicha, Congo. His parents were missionaries in Africa and he was raised in Kenya.

As a young adult, David moved back to the United States to attend college. He lived, studied and worked in Chicago, Illinois. He was married to Diane C. Downing and they share three children; Dawn, Shelly and Scott. In 1969, they went to Congo as missionaries, where they served until 1992.

In 1996 he married Faith Masila. They have two children; Matt and Lily. They continued working in East Africa until her untimely death in 2000. In 2005 he returned to the United States and settled in Siloam Springs, AR, where he devoted himself to raising his children.
David was a hard-working and generous man, committed to his family. His caring and sacrificial heart was evident in his love for the people of Africa and continued on in Siloam Springs. His friends and family will remember his adventurous spirit, storytelling and his heart for the underdog. He will be greatly missed.

{He was preceded in death by his dearly beloved wife, Faith Downing}

Survivors include children, Dawn Downing Ryckman and husband, Jim of New York, Shelly Downing of Plymouth, MA, Scott Downing and wife, Susan of FL, Matthew Downing of Siloam Springs, AR and Lily Downing of Siloam Springs, AR; grandchildren, Brent Ryckman, Paul Ryckman and wife, Leona, Laura Reynolds and husband, Hayden, Audrey Downing, Selah Downing, Mahlia Downing, Micah Downing, and Shiloh Downing; siblings, Daphne McRostie, Dottie Hildebrandt, Lee Downing, Vic Downing.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt’s Tulsa Funeral Service and Cremation Care Center. Family and friends may share memories or condolences with the family, online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.