Edward Ray Downey

Edward Ray (Ed) Downey, 80, of Christiansburg, Va., passed peacefully from the arms of his loved ones to the arms of his Heavenly Father on Monday, November 2, 2009. Born in Low Moor, Va., on August 17, 1929, he was a son of the late Rev. Moses C. and Nellie K. Downey. He was a member of the Church of God, retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation, and worked at his families business, Maggie's Treasures. Ed served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He leaves to treasure his precious memories, his wife of 52 years, Barbara Moore Downey; two sons, Terry Ray Downey, of Christiansburg, and Timothy Ray Downey and his wife, Wendy; two precious grandchildren, Taylor Nicole and Brandon Mitchell Downey, all of Radford; a sister, Bernice Lair, of Lynchburg; two brothers, Billy Downey, of Brookneal, and Jimmy Downey, of Lynchburg; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Downey, of Lynchburg; a loving niece whom he considered a daughter, LaFaye M. Martin; four brothersin-law, Thomas (Bo) Moore and wife, Nancy, Warren H. Moore, and wife, Paula, Floyd N. Moore and wife, Mary Jane, and Roger B. Moore; a sisterin-law, Ivan Harless and husband, Adelee; friends, Seifred and Gail Holzer, Ken and Shelba Baker, and Pat and Doug Wall; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Zadie Lawhorne and Irene Myers; two brothers, Leonard and Caroll Downey; a dear friend, Earl Carr; and a sister-in-law, June Freeman and her husband, Lindy. Funeral services will be conducted by his special nephew, the Rev. Kenneth Lawhorne 2 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009, at Robinson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Moore Family Cemetery, Coleman's Mill Road, Appomattox. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, Thursday, November 5, 2009, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and following the service at the home of the late June M. Freeman. The family would like to express their love and appreciation to "His Angel" nurse, Sara Snow; the entire staff of Montgomery Regional Hospital; Dr. McCoy and staff at Blue Ridge Cancer Center; Dr. Rivero and staff; Dr. Stoeckle and staff; Dr. Trivedi and staff; Drs. Dave and Steve Hudgins and staff; Carilion New River Valley Hospice staff; special nurses, Vicki Foreman and Wendy Roop; the New River Valley Emmaus Community; and family and friends for their prayers and support during Ed's illness. Those wishing to make memorials please consider the Moore Family Cemetery, c/o R.B. Moore, 1103 Wise Street, Lynchburg, Va. 24504. Robinson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Appomattox, Va., is serving the family and an online condolence may be sent at www.robinsonfuneral.com.