SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. — Roscoe Albert Downing, 91, passed away on June 10.

He was born in Gardiner, Nov. 21, 1920, the son of Murl and Alice (Delaware) Downing. He graduated from Gardiner High School in 1938, and the Kennebec School of Commerce in 1940. He was a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, serving as a Chief of Operations in Africa, Sicily, England and France.

In 1946, he married Catherine (Kay) Robinson of Hallowell, and they moved to Kennebunkport, where Ross worked three years for Maineco Trading Co. They moved to Norway, in 1951, where they lived for 35 years. Ross and Kay raised their four children, Bruce, Anne, John and Susan in Norway. Ross was employed at C.B. Cummings & Sons for 35 years, 20 as sales manager and 15 as treasurer. After his retirement in 1985, Kay and Ross moved to Sebring, Fla., where they lived for 20 years before moving to Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center.

Ross was active in community affairs, serving as treasurer of the American Legion in Kennebunkport, the Charter President of the Norway Jaycees, the last chairman of the Norway School Board and first chairman of the SAD 17 Board, Treasurer and President of Norway Country Club, and as a Director and President of the Maine State Golf Association. He was an avid golfer and past member of Norway Country Club, Martindale Country Club, and the Golf Hammock in Sebring.

Most of all, Ross and Kay were loving and proud parents and grandparents, and greatly enjoyed the many family visits during their retirement years in Florida. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2006. Kay passed away in 2008, following a battle with cancer, and Ross continued to live in their apartment in Sun City Center. In November 2010, all of the family gathered at Susan’s home in Georgia for his 90th birthday celebration.

He is survived by his son, Bruce, of Norway; daughter, Anne Mann and husband, Jim, of West Paris; son, John and Dianne Chapman of Falmouth; daughter, Susan Soucie and husband, Steve, of Flowery Branch, Ga.; and grandchildren, Taylor Kay Soucie, Samantha L. Downing, and Bailey Anne Soucie.

He was predeceased by his wife, Catherine; his stepbrother, Arthur Downing; and daughter-in-law, Marjorie Downing.