Myrtle Downing

Myrtle Downing, of Lyons, Ohio, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 at Ebeid Hospice, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Delta, Ohio on May 4, 1931 to Earl and Marie (Zug) Derby. She graduated from Lyons High School in 1949, where she met the love of her life, her husband, Bobbie. They were married on August 12, 1950 and they had 60 wonderful years together until his passing in 2011.

Myrtle was an active member of the Lyons Christian Church where she served many years as deaconess. She worked as an accountant for 25 years in several offices including 15 years at the McCord Corp, in Wauseon, Ohio. After her retirement, they spent their winter months in Cape Coral/Ft. Myers, Florida.

Myrtle and Bob enjoyed dancing and spent many Saturday nights at the Lyons VFW dances. She also enjoyed planning and taking family vacations. She enjoyed yearly trips to almost every state and the Caribbean Islands with her children and grandchildren.

Myrtle had a pen pal from WWII, Iris Barnes, of Manchester, England. The Downing family and Barnes family made several trips to visit one another and travel together throughout the U.S. and the U.K.. It was an amazing, lifelong friendship.

Myrtle leaves three children to cherish her memory, Teresa (Randy) Burgermeister of Lyons, Ohio, Cheryl (Frank) LoFiego of Sylvania and Mark (Taryn) Downing of Lyons; six grandchildren, Joshua (Jessica) Burgermeister, Jessica Burgermeister, Cara (Shawn) O'Neill, Tony (Brittany) LoFiego, Dominic (Cheryl) LoFiego and Alicia Downing; twelve great-grandchildren, Aiden and Ella Burgemeister, Jace and J'Leigh Burgermeister, Shamus, Maggie and Finnegan O'Neill, Gianna and Apollo LoFiego, Isabella and Lily LoFiego and Clayton Hohenbrink.

She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Sondra Derby and Alberta Haupricht; brother-in-law, Roger Schantz; and many extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and her siblings, Glen, Wayne, Henry, Richard and Gerald Derby, Mary Bachelder and Helen Schantz.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 18th at the Lyons Christian Church, 138 E. Morenci Street in Lyons, OH from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. , with the funeral services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Lyons Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lyons Christian Church, Ebeid Hospice, or the Lyons Fire Department.

Residence: Lyons, Ohio

Visitation: Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 9-11 a.m. at Lyons Christian Church

Services: Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Lyons Christian Church

Interment: Lyons Cemetery