Lit Brush emailed the names of two of her 1945 classmates that died in 2012. They are: Samuel Downs Jr. and Barbara (Ford) Westbrook. Another 1945 graduate died in 2009, William Elton Fox. They all died all of natural causes.
Barbara Westbrook is listed as Barbara Ford in the 1944 yearbook and and Barbara Ford Merritt in the 1945 yearbook. Lit Brush told me that “Merritt” is the last name of her stepfather. I have used the same name as her obituary.
Barbara (Ford) Westbrook, Class of 1945
Elton Fox Class of 1945
Samuel Downs Jr. Class of 1945
WILLIAM ELTON FOX (Age 82) A resident of Springfield, VA died on December 26, 2009. He was a retired Scientist for the Environmental Protection Agency. He is survived by his loving wife Ruth McCrary Fox; two sons, Thomas and James Fox; one daughter, Peggy Fox; one brother, Lawrence Fox; Five grandchildren, William, Robert and Rachel Fox, Logan Horan and Leah Horan. Memorial Service will be on Wednesday, January 6, 2009, 1 p.m. at Greenspring Chapel, 7420 Spring Village Dr., Springfield, VA 22150.
Arrangements entrusted to Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd. Springfield, VA, 703-549-0074.
Published in The Washington Post from December 30 to December 31, 2009
David the above Samuel Downs was my oldest brother he passed away the day after he was 85. I lost another brother who is on the memorial Edward Downs when he was in his 40’s. My youngest brother Robert Downs lives in Prescott Valley Az. All of us are former Tronans and Alumni. Our father was Judge Samuel Downs who was the elected Judge of Trona for over 20+ years. The Downs Street in Ridgecrest was named after him and the Bowman Rd in Ridgecrest was named after my grandfather Grant Bowman. Just to add a little history of our family connection to the desert. Mary (Downs) Lay