Bobby Neil Downs

Bobby Neil Downs, age 79, of Arkadelphia died Friday, February 3, 2012. He was born June 20, 1932 the son of Emory Edwin and Arkie Jane Davis Downs. He retired after 34 years from Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company, U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean War serving as a cryptographer stationed in Tokyo for four years. He was a member of the Clark County Historical Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Jamestown Society, Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Sons of the Confederacy, and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia. Bobby did extensive research on the Arkansas Fifteenth Regiment Infantry during the Civil War and published a book by that name. He provided help to countless friends and relatives in researching their family trees. He was preceded in death by one son, Timothy Wayne Downs and one brother, Bernard Emory Downs. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jacqueline Green Downs, one daughter, Diane Downs Newton and her husband Chris of Conway, Ark., five grandchildren, Robert Newton (Natalie), Kyle Newton (Tiffany), Stephanie Downs Milner, Chrystal Downs Loffelmacher, Luke Downs, and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., Sunday in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel with Rev. Carroll Jackson officiating, Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home. The family will also greet friends from 2 p.m., Sunday till service time. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia, 107 N. 9th St., Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923. Sign on line guest book at www.ruggleswilcox.com.