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Philip G. Downes, of Albuquerque, formerly of Winchester, MA, died October 8, 1999. He was 81 years of age. Born in Boston, he attended Country Day School in Newton and graduated from Harvard with the class of 1940. During World War II, he volunteered and rose from Private to Lieutenant, Infantry. He was commissioned at Fort Benning, GA and was sent to Camp Roberts, CA as an intelligence officer. He was next attached to Supreme Headquarters, A.E.F. in Paris, where he was commissioned Captain. He was married to Valia Cara Yanopoulo de Bourdji while he was stationed in Paris. Following World War II, he was associated with Downes Lumber Co. in Boston before leaving to teach at the Charles River School in Dover. After teaching he returned to Boston and established the Downes Millwork Co. which specialized in the custom milling and profiling of hardwoods and softwoods. He directed this firm for 12 years until his retirement. He was active as an instructor in youth football programs in Winchester and at Belmont Hill in youth hockey. He had played varsity hockey in college. He had been a director of the Downes Lumber Co., a member of the Winchester Country Club, and the Harvard Varsity Club. He is survived by his wife, Valia of Albuquerque; two sons, Jerome Downes of Venice, CA and Peter Downes of Edgewood; a late daughter, Valia Patrice Downes of Winchester; and a daughter, Maura McGrail of Albuquerque, her husband, K.C., and their two children, Sean Patrick McGrail and Mikaela McGrail. He is also survived by his sister, Rose D. Arnold of Arlington, MA; and his brothers, J. Edward Downes Jr. of Weston, MA and Richard Downes of Wakefield, MA; his brother, Thomas M. Downes of Vero Beach, FL and Winchester, MA predeceased him. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Prince of Peace Catholic Community Church, Albuquerque, on October 15 at 11:00 a.m. Burial at the VA Cemetery in Santa Fe will be private. Remembrances may be sent to the Bear Canyon Senior Center, 4645 Pitt NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 343-8008.
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