Downey, Edward James Jr. 1926 - 2025
DOWNEY, BOHEN, BIGALK, NELSON, HILSON, DALEBROUX
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/5/2026 at 17:46:53
Edward James Downey Jr, 99, of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at his home on December 31, 2025. He had just celebrated Christmas and his birthday with family in Texas the previous week. He was looking forward to celebrating his 100th later this year. As a man of devout faith, he was also looking forward to meeting his Lord and Savior.
Ed was born in San Francisco, California on December 26, 1926, to Edward and Frances (Bohen) Downey. The family later moved across the bay to Oakland. He talked of driving a Model-T truck, loaded with produce, from the family ranch in Napa when he was eleven, claiming that it was the best time and place to grow up.
After graduating from high school, Ed served briefly in the Army before being honorably discharged in 1945.
Ed earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at Cal Berkeley in 1949. After graduating, he worked for companies such as Packard Bell and Hughes Aircraft before eventually settling into his career with MITRE Corporation in Bedford, Massachusetts.
On July 23, 1955, Ed married Carol Delone Bigalk at St. Joseph’s Church in Big Bear Lake, California, after which they settled in a house in Los Angeles and started a family, moving to Manhattan Beach a few years later and to Acton, Massachusetts when he joined MITRE in 1966. From there, Ed's job saw the family relocate to Aiea, Hawaii, Heidelberg, West Germany and San Antonio, Texas where Ed and Carol remained until his retirement in 1988. After retirement, they settled in Rogers. The location was a convenient location for the family spread out across the country and Rogers was beautiful.
Ed and Carol loved to travel and spent much of their retirement years seeing the country and the world, by plane, car or ship. They were also active in local bridge clubs wherever they lived. They continued that practice until Carol passed away in 2008.
Ed married Jeanne Nelson on July 18, 2009, in Bella Vista. They remained in Bella Vista until moving to Rogers in 2023. Ed and Jeanne enjoyed cruising and traveling in general. They were also avid bridge players and loved life together until Jeanne passed away shortly after moving to Rogers.
Besides traveling and bridge, Ed was active with Barbershop chorus and quartets, having received his 60-year pin five years ago. He had planned to sing in a quartet for his 100th birthday at the winter convention next year. What Ed cherished most was family and friends. His door was always open and company was always welcome. He loved life to the fullest.
Ed is survived by his daughter Jane Hilson of Eleva, Wisconsin, his son Charles and wife Marcia of Worcester, Massachusetts, his daughter Susan Dalebroux and husband David of Grapevine, Texas. He is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Carol, his second wife of 13 years, Jeanne and his son, Paul.
A time of visitation was held on Friday January 9, 2026, at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Burial of ashes next to his first wife Carol, will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in rural Cresco, Iowa in June.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peace Lutheran Church of Rogers, AR food bank.
Arrangements are under the care of Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory in Bella Vista AR and Schmelzer Funeral Home in Cresco, IA.
Source: Schmelzer Funeral Home database
Cedar Hill Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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