Alden C. Downer

WEST BOYLSTON – Alden C. Downer, 86, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. He was born in Worcester and spent his early childhood in North Grafton before moving to West Boylston at age 13, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Alden was the son of Carl O. and Ellen L. (Hyslop) Downer. Alden graduated from Major Edwards Senior High School in West Boylston in 1951, and honorably served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. He met his wife in 1955, and they later married on April 5, 1958 at Oakdale United Methodist Church. Alden attended Clark University in Worcester and worked in office machine repair before becoming a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Worcester and Paxton for 21 years. After retiring, Alden was a transport driver for Perkins School for the Blind and the West Boylston Senior Citizens’ shuttle for several years. He was an active member of Oakdale United Methodist Church in Oakdale where he sang in the choir for 64 years. He was an accomplished tenor who sang solos at many weddings and special services, in addition to singing with the Master Singers of Worcester for two seasons. He enjoyed playing the piano, bird carving, and was an antique car enthusiast. Well known for his keen sense of humor and joke telling, Alden was the king of puns and the ace of one-liners. Above all, his greatest joy and delight came from his wife and family, whom he adored. He will be affectionately remembered and missed by his loving wife of 59 years, Betsy F. (Lunsford) Downer; his son, George B. Downer and his wife, Maureen of West Boylston; two daughters, Robin Downer Connell and her husband, Byron of Menlo Park, California and Carolyn R. Downer of West Boylston; his sister, Velma R. Grasseler of Florida; his brother, Orton B. Downer and his wife, Patsy of Florida; four grandchildren, Chase A. and Claire M. Connell, and Shannon E. and Erin E. Downer; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by three brothers, Wesley R., Wendell D., and Wayne F. Downer, and two sisters, Marion M. Smith and Marjorie E. Sherwood. Relatives and friends are invited to gather with Alden’s family from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, at the Miles Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road (Rt. 12), Sterling. A service honoring Alden’s life will be on Friday, July 28, at 10:00 a.m. at the Oakdale United Methodist Church, 15 N. Main St., Oakdale, with the Rev. Michelle Grube officiating. Interment will be held privately at the Massachusetts Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alden’s name to Oakdale United Methodist Church. To leave a memory or offer an online condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" here on this page.