Parkes Abbott Downing Jr.

Parkes Abbott Downing Jr., 63, husband of Ann Smith Downing of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away November 7, 2010 at New Hanover Memorial Hospital with family by his side. A native of Franktown, Virginia, he was born at Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox, Virginia on January 6, 1947. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Clay and his wife Danielle; two stepsons, Andy Futrell and his wife Kim, Charlie Futrell and his wife Marla; his parents, Parkes and Margaret Boole Downing of Franktown,VA; two brothers, David of Franktown, and Johnny and his wife Cindy of Onancock, VA; seven grandchildren, Thomas and Clay Downing, Biz, Hannah, Trace, Liza, and Mary Kate Futrell. Parkes grew up on the Eastern Shore Virginia. As a Shore Boy, he skated on the creeks, cracked oysters with his grandfather, Capt. Pat, planted strawberries, and clammed with his family. This is where he developed his love for the outdoors and the water. He attended Old Dominion College on a baseball scholarship before serving as a member of the Army Corps of Engineers during the Vietnam War. He was a successful small business owner in and around the Raleigh and Wilmington areas. He enjoyed a wide variety of interests which included gardening, hunting, fishing, tinkering, carving, and collecting. He particularly enjoyed time spent on the water, at the cabin in the mountains, and knocking around with buddies. But his greatest enjoyment came from spending time with his grandchildren. Those who had the privilege of knowing Parkes knew him as a caring, fun loving, and wise person. The family will receive friends at the Downing home in Wilmington, NC on Thursday, November 11th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Celebration of Life services will be held on Friday, November 12th, at the Church of the Servant in Wilmington, North Carolina at 1:00 PM and Sunday, November 14th at Franktown United Methodist Church in Franktown at 2:00 PM. The family requests no flowers, please. Memorial donations may be sent in his name to The Association of Retarded Citizens of the Eastern Shore, P. O. Box 626, Exmore, Virginia 23350. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com Arrangements made by Doughty Funeral Home, Exmore.