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Ken Downing was born in Roseville, CA, July 20th, 1939 to Leona and Joe Downing. Shortly after they moved to Vallejo, and then settled in Petaluma on a small chicken farm by the time he was six years of age, where his only brother, Wayne was born. Ken attended St. Vincents and graduated in 1957. After attending a year at the SRJC, Ken decided to join the Navy and subsequently served six years of service on the USS Ticonderoga. Following his service Ken went into the sheet metal trade and worked in that field until his retirement at the age of 55. He found his retirement years filled with golf with the Sir's, traveling all over the country, and playing pool with his best friend, Ed Lopus. Ken is survived by his three sons, Corey, Eric, and Kevin, who blessed him with twelve grandkids and 5 great grandchildren.
Ken will always be remembered as that cool guy pulling up in a bad ass new car, bragging about his sons, and not holding back with any of his strong and sometimes dated opinions. His sons all looked up to him, and looked forward to the quality time that they all managed to share with him in their own way, playing golf with Eric, playing in a pool league with Kevin, and telling stories with Corey. He was always there to bail them out of trouble, or to lend an ear when they needed him most.
As with all of us, the bright and the beautiful, the gritty and the hilarious, must be read between the lines written here, and it is in those stories that he lives on in our memories. Love you Dad. A Funeral Service will be held, Friday, July 18, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, California. The Burial will follow at Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma, California
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
850 Keokuk Street FD12 CR91, Petaluma, CA 94952
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
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