BRISTOL -- W.E. "Buddy" Downs, 73, of Bristol died at 1:08 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 8, 2010) in Elkhart Hospice House.

He was born on May 7, 1936, in Columbus, Ga., to Ralph and Maggie Lou (Hubbard) Downs. He married LuDein Wilcox on December 19, 1973, in Bristol.

Mr. Downs is survived by his wife, one daughter, Lori (Todd) Kaser of Bristol; three sons, Charles (Lisa) Wilcox of Goshen, Ed (Janice) Downs of New Iberia, La., and Alan Downs of Bristol; and one sister, Patricia (Buck) Phillips of Colquitt, Ga.

Mr. Downs worked for Shaum Electric, Richardson Mobile Homes, General Motors and JEDCO before he and his wife started Love & Blessings, a religious gift store, in the basement of their house. He was a member of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, Bristol Knights of Columbus Council No. 11574 and served in the U.S. Navy.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, IN 46516. Friends may also call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday before the Mass of Christian Burial, which will be at 11 a.m. Monday with the Rev. Robert Vankempen officiating at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 411 W. Vistula St, Bristol, IN. Cremation will follow the Mass, with burial at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to St Mary's of the Annunciation Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be sent to www.billingsfuneralhome.com.