Richard A. "Dick" Downer, 78, of Grafton passed away Wednesday September 30, 2015 at Mercy New Life Hospice Residential Center in Lorain following a brief illness. He was born Jan uary 16, 1937 in DuBois, PA. and was a Grafton resident for 29 years, coming from Pennsylvania. Richard worked for the Federal Aviation Administration in Oberlin as a air traffic controller for 33 years, retiring in 2002. He was a active member of Community United Methodist Church in Elyria, a United States Army veteran, and a former member of the Lorain County Road Runners (LoCo). Survivors include his wife of 55 years, SueAnn (nee-Gillis); sons, Richard (Debbie) Downer Jr. and Doug (Cindi) Downer both of Palmdale, CA; grandchildren, Josiah, Nathan, Ashleigh, Brittney, Megan and Tre; sister, Virginia McClelland of Waynesburg, PA.; brother, Gene Downer of Alamogordo, NM. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Leukemia Society 902 Westpoint Parkway Suite 300 Cleveland, OH. 44145 or to Community United Methodist Church 680 North Abbe Rd. Elyria, OH. 44035. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Service 38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd. Elyria. Online condolences may be expressed at www.laubenthalmercado.com