Vernon James Downes

Vernon James Downes of Salisbury, MD and formally of Pittsville, MD was born on March 21, 1926 and died on February 24, 2026. Vernon was the husband of Nancy Parks Justis Downes of Saint Martins, MD for seventy-nine (79) years. They were married on January 3, 1947 at Ayres United Methodist Church in Pittsville and settled in Pittsville where they began their family and life together. Vernon was the son of the late Herman Joshua Downes and Olive Patey Downes.

Vernon was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Vernon's talent was organizing and motivating others. He had a vision for things unseen and a determination to see them into reality. Vernon was one of the founding visionaries of the Christian Radio Station, WOLC. Working alongside some of his dearest friends, this radio station began to broadcast God's message throughout the mid-Atlantic region on Christmas Eve of 1976. Nancy and Vernon were known for opening their home to people who were in some sort of life transition, often offering not only physical food and shelter but also spiritual mentoring. Vernon retired from Delmarva Power & Light in 1983 after 35 years of service. Vernon and Nancy raised their family on a small farm in Pittsville where they grew chickens, cattle and hogs. In 1968 Vernon founded a technical services firm and later in 1974 began an engineering consulting business, Downes Associates Inc. Throughout his life, Vernon was very active in Christian endeavors including the Gideons, Lay Witness Missions, Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, teaching Sunday School, a Methodist Conference District Lay Leader and was one of a group of businessmen who brought the Billy Graham Crusade to Salisbury in the late 1950s. Vernon loved being surrounded by family, boating, fishing, crabbing, board games, card games and he especially loved pulling pranks on others.

Vernon served in the Pacific theater during WWII. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of seventeen (17) and received basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station in Great Lakes, ILL. Following basic training he was transferred to the amphibious Navy and subsequently was assigned to a rocket ship, the LSMR 195, which left for the Pacific in the fall of 1944. On May 3, 1945, between Okinawa and Japan, his ship was sunk by a kamikaze plane, resulting in a month-long hospitalization on the island of Saipan. Vernon was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, after two years, two months, and twenty-two days of service.

In addition to his wife, Vernon is survived by his five children; Susan Jane Hart Kuenstner, of Salisbury, MD; David Vernon Downes (Lenny) of Salisbury, MD; Jeffrey Carroll Downes (Alice) of Salisbury, MD; Dawn Robin Downes Liechty (Jerry) of Salisbury, MD; and Mark Joshua Downes of Salisbury, MD.

His life was greatly enriched by eleven (11) grandchildren; David Downes Hart (deceased), Joel Isaac Hart (Katrina); Nathan Justis Downes, Joshua Asher Downes; Avery Anne Downes Johnson (Stephen), Rachel Justis Downes Palmer (Jordan), Greta Joy Downes Etherton (Ian), Luke Daniel Downes (Grace); Stephanie Ann Liechty Meier (Joseph), Jacob Jerald Liechty (Amanda); and Daniel Vernon Downes. In addition, there are sixteen (16) great grandchildren; Elijah David Meier, Abigail Joy Meier, Asher Jude Meier, Olive Kate Meier, Sadie Anne Johnson, Charles Edward Johnson, Thomas James Johnson, Duke Valor Palmer, Ezekeil "Zeke" Justis Palmer, Lilikoi Adeline Hart, Akela Lelani Hart, Charlotte Grace Liechty, Henry James Liechty, Ernest Byrd Etherton, Phoebe Pearl Etherton, and Dorothea "Thea" Mae Downes. He is also survived by many loved nieces and nephews.

Vernon is survived by one sister, Shirley Ann Matthews. In addition to his parents, Vernon is predeceased by a brother, Herman Vaughn Downes, and a sister, Hilda Jane Littleton and brothers-in-law Calvin Littleton and Kenneth Mattews. Vernon donated his body to the Maryland Anatomy Board for use in education and research. If you have a story about Vernon that you would like to share with the family, please feel free to write it up and send it to Mrs. Vernon Downes at 6993 Amber Fields Court, Salisbury, MD 21804.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Providence Presbyterian Church, 311 Parker Road, Salisbury, MD. Light-fare food will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the service. Pastor Jason Shelton will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, Vernon requested that donations be made to the Christian Shelter, 334 Barclay Street, Salisbury, MD 21804. Donations to the Christian Shelter can be made on their website "christianshelter.org".