Raymond S. 'Buck' Downing

Raymond S. “Buck” Downing, 92, of Conneaut Lake, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at Rolling Fields after a lengthy battle with dementia.

He was born July 19, 1929 in Pittsburgh, PA, a son of Richard James and Hazel McEwen Downing.  He married Shirley L. “Tucker” Weikal April 17, 1951 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  He then worked as the produce manager for many years at Riverside in Meadville.  Bucky served in the armed forces as part of the United States Army during the Korean War.

Buck spent his life involved in every aspect of showing horses.  He was inducted in the 4-H Hall of Fame where he was a 4-H leader for 30 years for Odds n’ Ends Club and was a member of the Western PA Riding and Driving club.  He won the National Championship for POA ponies in Waterloo, Iowa in 1969 with the stallion Aristocrate.  He owned a horse farm in Conneaut Lake where he trained and raised mainly Appaloosas.  Bucky could be found at the Crawford County Fair Grounds every weekend in the ring, while his sisters were the announcers.

In Conneaut Lake, Buck owned and operated with his wife, Tucker, and his sister and brother-in-law, “Boots” and Elmer Milosh, the Chuck Wagon Restaurant for 2 years and the Oasis Tavern for 3 years.  Buck enjoyed racing cars and organizing local sporting events while his sons were in school.  He was a member of the Conneaut Lake Presbyterian Church and a former member of the Conneaut Lake Park VFD #5.

He is survived by four grandchildren, Chelsea, Colter, Sarah, and Hannah Downing; a great-grandson, Kyle T. Unice; daughter-in-law, Ronda Downing; a sister, Lou Ann Swartzlander (Norman), all of Conneaut Lake; a nephew, Glenn Milosh of Conneaut Lake; four nieces, Sandra Loreno, Carol Singleterry, Sheree Hawk and Shirley Workman and one great niece, Linsey Loreno.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife “Tucker” Downing of 70 years; his sons, Tod and Rod Downing; a sister, Hazel “Boots” Milosh (Elmer); a brother, Richard Downing, Jr.; and a sister-in-law, Eileen “Tootie” Hawk (Lawrence “Buzz”).

Calling hours will be Monday, April 25, 2022 from 12-2 p.m. at the Waid-Coleman Funeral Home, Inc., 12422 Conneaut Lake Road, Conneaut Lake.  The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Rev. Sam Heagy, officiating.

Interment with military honors will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidcolemanfh.com