Arthur H. Downing

Arthur H. Downing, MD, 94 of Bradenton died March 27, 2009. He moved here from Des Moines, Iowa in 1987 and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church. He attended Drake University from 1932-1935, the University of Chicago Medical School from 1935-1939 and graduated from the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology in 1944. He served as a Major in the Army Medical Corp during WWII from 1942-1946. He was in private practice in Des Moines from 1946-1979; chief of Ophthalmology at the Veteran's Medical Center Des Moines and Clinical Asst. Professor University of Iowa from 1979-1987. He was Clinical Asst. Professor, University of South Florida from 1988-1994. He received the Donaldson Clinical Teaching Award from University of South Florida in 1995. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa since 1935; as Founder of the Iowa Society to Prevent Blindness, he received the 25th Anniversary Award in 1973 for personal dedication and leadership in the prevention of blindness. He is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth Downing; sons, Richard M. (Patti) Downing of Carbondale, Colorado, Michael J. (Patricia) Downing of Springfield, Oregon; daughter, Jane Elizabeth Rubini, Boynton Beach, Florida; brother, William L. Downing, St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren, Elizabeth Rubini, Punta Gorda, Florida, Jennifer Rubini, Cleveland, Ohio, Courtney Shafer, Springfield, Oregon and great-grandchild, Derek Shafer, Springfield, Oregon. He was predeceased by his brother, James H. Downing. Memorial service will be 11:00AM Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Christ Episcopal Church Chapel. Griffith-Cline Funeral & Cremation Service in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to your favorite charity.