Downing, Flora A. and Dr. Donald T.

Flora A. Downing and Dr. Donald T. Downing passed within hours of each other on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2014, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Flora A. Brockman was born Nov. 11, 1930, in Perth, Western Australia, the daughter of Francis and Mae (Dines) Brockman. Flora's father described her as a larrikin. As a child, her mother insisted she and her siblings wear shoes to their one-room schoolhouse; they found this to be quite a burden and would hide their shoes in the brush on the way to school. She was united in marriage to Donald Talbot Downing on Aug. 23, 1952, in Perth, Western Australia. A mutual friend originally introduced the couple and Donald was immediately smitten with Flora. When we asked Dad on New Year's Eve to tell us about Mum when they first met, he said she was “unconventional” and “the life of the party.”

The couple and their family moved to the United States in 1966, first to Boston, then here to Iowa City, where Donald was associated with the University of Iowa.

Flora enjoyed her bridge clubs, being a member of the American Contract Bridge League. She was also an active instructor hosting free lessons in her home. Flora was an avid, attentive and knowledgeable gardener, creating an extraordinary lush garden at her home with native and hardy perennials.

In 2010, the Old Post Office Gallery in Iowa City hosted a one-woman exhibition of her needle and quilt work, entitled, “The Artful Garden: Collected works of Flora A. Downing.” Flora spent a lifetime designing and creating unique handmade quilts and embroidered gifts for her children and grandchildren. But most dear to her was caring for her family; she loved being a Mother and Grandmother. The day before her death, Flora became a great-grandmother to her first great-grandchild, Natalia Flora Weinger.

Donald T. Downing was born March 11, 1929, in Perth, Western Australia, the son of Talbot and Mary (Leonard) Downing. Don, his two brothers, and their friends got up to quite a lot of mischief in the wild Australian countryside. He was a dynamic student of St. George's College at the University of Western Australia (UWA), where he was captain of athletic teams and led student organizations. Donald also earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at UWA and was among the first to earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the institution.

In Australia, Donald was associated with CSIRO in Melbourne doing medical research. In 1966, in pursuit of research without constraint, he accepted a position at Boston University, earning a teaching award, before moving to the University of Iowa Department of Dermatology. He retired Professor Emeritus from the university in 2002.

During his passionate career as a scientist he published over 200 scientific papers and was a member of professional associations and groups on national and international levels.

In his home life Donald was an accomplished woodworker, crafting much of the furniture they had in their home and pieces for many of their family members and hand-built an intricate Japanese teahouse for his wife, Flora.

After their active and adventurous lives, Don had succumbed to heart failure and Flora to complications of leukemia.

Their families includes their children, Caroline Downing (Joe Hildreth) of Potsdam, N.Y., Matthew Downing of Iowa City. Mary Giveen (Sam) of Grantham, N.H., Martin Downing (Kathia) of Lone Tree, Nancy Downing (Mark Reagan) of Iowa City and William Downing (Kumi Morris) of Iowa City; grandchildren, Adriana Hemans, Spike Hemans (Patricia), Kate Hildreth, Jessica Weinger (Blake), Sarah Sherman, Esack Grueskin, Zoe Grueskin, Chloe Reagan, Talbot Morris-Downing and Flora Morris-Downing; and one great-granddaughter, Natalia Flora Weinger; Flora's siblings, Ailsa Smith (Malcolm), Maisie Paterson, William Brockman (Jack) and Shirly Mooney, all of Australia; Don's siblings, John Downing (Louise) and Michael Downing (Jennifer), all of Adelaide, South Australia; and also their longtime friend, Mary-Ellen Stewart of Iowa City.

Private family services will be at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, their family asks you consider donating either monetarily or in person to the DeGowin Blood Center at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Online condolences may be sent for their family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for the Downing Family and assisting in their arrangements.

Published Jan. 4, 2014 in The Gazette