Obituary of Thomas Van Downs

Thomas Van Downs, 76, of the Roundhill Community went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. He owned and operated his own business, WNC Marble & Tile and was an avid outdoorsman. Van also loved his dog, Lightning. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tommy and Winnie Downs; brothers, Gerald Downs, Harrison Downs, and Leroy Downs; sisters, Willie Maude Skidmore and Inez Lewis; and fiancee, Penny Blount. He is survived by his two sons, Rick Downs and wife Linda of Bryson City, Kent Downs and C.J. Ridings of Rock Hill, SC; three grandchildren, Kelli Downs Smith and husband Phillip of Bryson City, Chelsea Downs Jenkins and husband McKinley of Bryson City, Van Downs and wife Brittany of Whittier; nine great grandchildren, Trevor, Dylon, Alissa, Savana, Kiersten, Addisyn, Jade, Tenley, and Haven; sisters, Clara Agnes Camp (Wayne) of Hendersonville, Mildred Donathan and Kathy Chapman (Roger) of Arden, Pansie Huffstedtler of Fletcher; brothers, John Downs (Stella) of Jonesboro, TN, Gene Downs (Beth) of Newbern, GA, Kelly Downs (MaryAnn) of Stuarts Draft, VA; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Midway Baptist Church of which he was a member. Rev. Mark Sale will officiate with burial in the Roundhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Crisp Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 min. prior to the service.