Lester A. Downes Jr.

CENTREVILLE, MD: Lester A. Downes, Jr. of Centreville, MD died on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at Chester River Hospital Center. He was 66. Born May 8, 1940 in York, PA, he was the son of the late Lester A., Sr. and Mabel Gross Downes. He grew up in York, PA and attended Spry Elementary School and graduated from York High School in the Class of 1958. He began working for Metropolitan Edison as a meter reader and a pole climber and in 1972 he moved to Centreville to work with his family at the Downes Music Company. He later owned and operated Downes Coffee Shop in Centreville. In the 1980’s he was a self employed driver for Tidewater Publishing and later became a full time driver for Tidewater Publishing, retiring in 1995. He was a member of the Goodwill Fire Companies with a total of 13 years with the Goodwill Fire Company, York, PA, where he is a life member, including the York County Firemen’s Association and 34 years with the Goodwill Fire Company in Centreville, MD. He has been treasurer and was serving as assistant treasurer in charge of EMS division books. He was Vice and 1st Vice President, Vice Chairman of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association safety committee until being named to the MSFA Executive Board in 1998. He was on the Fire Prevention committee for Del-Mar-Va and 2nd V.P. and 1st V.P. for the Eastern Shore Volunteer Firemen’s Association. He was inducted into the following Hall of Fames, Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame, Kent and Queen Anne Hall of Fame, Eastern Shore Hall of Fame, Del-Mar-Va Hall of Fame, Fireman’s Historical Foundation of Delmarva, Inc. He was a Director of the Del-Mar-Va Fireman’s Association, Assistant Treasurer of The Goodwill Fire Company at the time of his death and currently a member of the MSFA VCAB and Legislative Board. He was the President of the Centreville Business Association, a candidate for Town Commissioners, American Legion, he was a coach for Little League, and involved in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Haunted House and organized the Centreville Outdoor Living Show and was a member of the Centreville United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Men. Mr. Downes is survived by his wife, Cindy Downes of Centreville; three daughters, Carol Downes of York, PA, Bonnie Francis, Robin Pilli, both of Centreville, MD; a son, Lester A. Downes, III of Centreville, MD; a brother, Charles A. Downes of CA; a sister, Martha Schaeffer of York, PA; four grandchildren, Jesse Freeman of Centreville, MD, Jennifer Klakring of Chester, MD and Clay and Richard Coppage, both of Centreville, MD and two special nephews, Ryan and Brandon Morris, both of Grasonville, MD. Funeral services will be held at the Centreville United Methodist Church, Centreville, MD on Thursday, July 6, 2006 at 11:00 AM. Friends and family may call at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Centreville on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 from 5 – 8 PM. Burial will be at Chesterfield Cemetery, Centreville, MD. Memorial donations may be made to Goodwill Fire Company, Ambulance –EMS Division, 212 Broadway, Centreville, MD 21617.