John Downing

John Calloway 'J.C.' Downing, 87, of Glasgow, died Thursday, August 28, 2008, at T. J. Samson Community Hospital. He was born January 17, 1921, in Tompkinsville, the son of the late L. W. and Nettie Bewley Downing. His family moved to Glasgow when he was a baby. Mr. Downing graduated from Bowling Green Business University in 1943 and then served in the U.S. Army with the 781st Tank Battalion in Europe until the end of WWII. During the late 1940s he was an employee of Planters Tobacco Warehouse and later became a part owner. In 1953 he became a partner with W.E. Cook in Cook & Downing Insurance Agency and became the sole owner in 1963. In 1976 his son-in-law, Rollin 'Buddy' Underwood, joined the agency and the name was changed to Cook, Downing & Underwood Insurance Agency. He was a long-time member of Glasgow Baptist Church where he served as an usher and Church Treasurer. A member of the Glasgow Rotary Club since Feb. 13, 1947, he served as president in 1953-54 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the T. J. Samson Community Hospital Board of Directors for 38 years where he held the position of Treasurer for a number of years. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Virginia Akers Downing; two daughters, Anne Grant (Buddy) Underwood and Jenny Jean Downing, of Glasgow; two grandchildren, Josh Underwood, of Georgetown, and Jenny Kate Underwood, of Glasgow; a sister, Anne (Harold) Matthews of Glasgow; two nephews, Dr. John Matthews, of Louisville, and Robert (Jill) Matthews, of Ponce Inlet, FL; a niece, Jeana (David) Kinsman, of Glasgow, and five great-nieces. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2008, at the A. F. Crow & Son Funeral Home with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time for the service. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Glasgow Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, Barren River Animal Welfare Association (BRAWA) or your favorite charity.