Mildred Downs
December 27, 1924 ~ April 5, 2016
Mildred Downs, 91 of Mooresville, passed away in the comfort of her home surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 5th.
One of four children, she was born on December 27, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Lillian Rubenstein. On June 29, 1945 she was wed to her beloved husband, Estell L. Downs who preceded her in death on April 28, 1978.
Mildred was a long time active member of Mooresville Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She retired from J.C. Penny Auto Center in 1973. She also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Most importantly, Mildred was a loving sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great great grandmother.
She was also preceded in death by her older brother, Al Rubenstein.
Survivors include her brothers, Murray (Lorraine) Rubenstein and Lester (Marcia) Rubenstein; sons and daughters, Sam (Joyce) Downs, Catherine (Robert) Castagne, Faith (Mike) Earles and Michael (Mary) Downs; 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.
Jack Hubbard will officiate a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 131 Robb Hill Road, Martinsville. Final care and cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory in Mooresville. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com where you may sign the online guest registry and leave a personal message for Mildred’s family.
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Like all of us I have countless memories of time with mom. Foremost I remember a time when I was three, four at the most, standing on the kitchen table, eye to eye with mom as she helped me get dressed. Laughing as she played and teased I remember falling into her arms and feeling so loved, safe and protected. I’ll always remember mom as a terrific woman who taught me how to be a good,loving father and husband. Forever grateful mom!
My memories are so numerous from her rock soup when times were lean to her wonderful yeast rolls with her potato soup. We did not have much money but s o much love shared with everyone. Seems like the house and yard was always full of neighbor kids and friends. As mother and daughter we had our differences but I could never question her love for me or any of us kids. When the grandkids came she cherished knitting for them and loving being a grandmother. She ught them their first watches when they learned to tell time. Of course she got them all their first scrabble game so she could teach them to play her beloved scrabble. Great grandkids followed and she shared her love with them as well.she loved and sharedwithsomanyovertheyearslongago se taught us that the more you shared your love the more you had to share. Her love for her family and friends was only surpassed by her love of our father. Estell and her unwavering love of Jehovah God. All though we miss her now and there is an empty spot in our lives right now we know wide will greet her and dad both when they rejoin us once again. I will always be grateful for your love and life lessons. Love always. Cathy
Grandma Mildred was stern, spunky, fun, loving, stubborn, her heart was full of love for Jehovah and her family. When Gma gave you a hug, it was like a warm, safe, fuzzy blanket and you knew her love came from deep within. If you knew Mildred, you knew well enough NOT to play scrabble with her! We used to play some mean games of war, go fish, and snuggle during my childhood visits with her. Gosh I remember the excitment when we would get close to her house, or if I knew she was driving to MI for the weekend to visit us. As an adult that never changed. I used to get so excited when a letter or package came from her and that tradition we have continued with out gbaby. Gma loved me for who I was, did not matter if we had difference of opinion, wants, beliefs, she still loved me. Thank you for everything you did for me and the memories I will cherish in my heart. Marci Clarke, Granddaughter
Im her first born grandchild…perhaps this is why i have always felt a deep connection with her…she was my friend, my comfidont , my spiritual sister…but most important she was my grandma… She always excepted and loved each of us no matter if we had strayed from jehovah , had a different faith or no faith at all. When i was lil she would drive to michigan for long weekends…and i remember standing at the window waving and crying …watching her car til i could see it no longer. Or if she flew to see us and her great grankids…id wave and be crying until she was a speck in the sky. When my marriage went bad…she begain sharing bible scriptures in letters and cards for me to read in the king james bible i had…she retaught me to pray and helped me to eventually get my life in order by means of the holy scriptures…and she helped me get to know Jehovah once more…she never lost faith in me even when all others had…including myself! We spoke of walking around the world in paradise always…i dont think she never met a person who she didnt ask them join her to walk around the world with her in paradise. She always told me…never judge a person by their outer wrapping…the outer beauty is only skin deep….that you need to look deep with in the person like jehovah does…and learn to love and appreciate the person who is deep with in. I use to always believe she told me this as a lil kid and teen because i was so unattractive…but i think now she was preparing me for some wisdom i needed in my adult life. We all know that grandma could not carry a tune…and some of us inharreted this same trait…but she loved to sing…i will miss her singing ‘michelle ma belle’…a beatles classic to me…even when i was pregnant with courtney she had me sit on her lap and sung it to me…i know i crushed her…but she wanted to have her special grandbaby to share this last rocking time together before i became a mom too…lol She taught all of us how to play scrabble and war ,go fish and these were happy memories…and no one usually argued if she always seemed to win…or she was allowed foreign words but we were not…we loved her just as much. We all loved her special packages…and i always wore her sweaters proudly even as a jr and sr in highschool. She taught me to needle point…and i too make pictures and do bible scriptures for people at the halls or who might be studying…and i have even made a few bookmarks like she talked me through over the phone. Grandma mildred will be greatly missed by all her family and friends…i promised id be there to greet and wake her in paradise…and we will both be free from pain like our favorite bible verse tells us at Rev. 21:3,4. Until then grandma…jehovah will remember all you have donein his name…and i will see you in paradise…I love you!:kissing_smiling_eyes: