Loyal Haldon Downing (Hal) of Richmond, Vermont passed away peacefully on April 4, 2024, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vermont.

Hal was born in Creston, Iowa to Loyal R. Downing & Helen A. Downing (Karns) on August 12, 1950. He graduated from Valley West High School in West Des Moines, Iowa in 1969 and attended Western Technical College until he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma specializing in Pershing Missiles.

He married his wife Rebecca (Becky) on May 15, 1971, and after he was discharged from the Army, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa. They were blessed with 3 children in 1985, moved to Vermont.

He was a heavy equipment operator and worked for Sundown Corporation in Stowe where he designed & made beautiful natural looking ponds and landscapes. He took pride in all this work and instilled that in his children. Later he worked for S.D. Ireland until he retired in 2007.

He loved to scuba dive, and he became a certified Master Diver. He also loved riding motorcycles, woodworking, sailing, skiing, hunting and fishing. He took joy in sharing these activities with his family, in the summer they sailed Lake Champlain, in the winter they skied at Smugglers' Notch.

He was a member of the Ski Patrol at Smugglers' Notch and was the director of the Mountain Guilds for Vermont Special Olympics Winter Games. His trip to Alaska for the World Special Olympics was something he was very proud of.

He was preceded in death by his parents Loyal and Helen Downing. Hal is survived by his children Christian Loyal Downing and Hillary of Waitsfield, Vermont, Amanda June Downing of Richmond, Vermont and Mark Lloyd Downing and Dijana of Colchester, Vermont. He leaves his sister Sharon and her husband Lenard Gosslink of Otley, Iowa, sister Barbara and her husband Larry Strong of Ankeny, Iowa and brother Jim and his wife Etta of West Des Moines, Iowa. He also leaves his grandchildren, Jocelyn, Brooke, Parker and Zuri and great grandchildren Sheldon, Perth and June.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of Baird 4, UVM Medical Center, McClure Miller Respite House and Joy Drive Dialysis.

Visiting hours will be 5:00 to 7:00 PM April 10, 2024, at Gifford Funeral Home in Richmond with a memorial service to follow. The burial with Military Honors will be held on Sunday, June 2nd, 1 PM in Sanderson Corner Cemetery in Fairfax, Vermont.