Benjamin Scott Downard

Lima

Benjamin Scott Downard, 43, of Hillsborough, N.C., formerly of Lima, died Oct. 13, 2009, in Hillsborough.

He was born Feb. 23, 1966, in Lima to Melvin L. Downard Sr. and Janet L. Cummins. His father preceded him in death. His mother survives in Lima.

Mr. Downard attended Jefferson High School, Delphos, and was a 1984 graduate of Elida High School, Elida. He was an Army veteran serving with the 82nd Airborne as a single-channel radio operator at Fort Bragg, N.C., from 1986 to 1989. He received the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Lapel Button, the M-16 Marksman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal and an Army Achievement Medal with an oak leaf cluster. He had been a dispatcher for the Cartersville, Ga., police department. He studied computer technology at North Metro Technical Institute, Acworth, Ga. He was a technology specialist for the Bartow County School System from 1999 to 2007. He was currently working as a workstation technician in the Durham Public School System. He enjoyed spending time with his son, photography, mountain biking and camping.

Survivors also include a son, Andrew Scott Downard, of Cartersville, Ga.; three brothers, Stephen Downard, of Van Wert, Melvin Downard Jr., of Shawnee, and Jacob Downard, of Leesville, S.C.; six sisters, Cynthia Lane, of Leesville, S.C., Carolyn Gagliostro, of Lugoff, S.C., Robin Hamm, of Kernersville, N.C., Rebecca McDaries, of Lima, Constance Kosiak, of Kokomo, Ind., and Julie Bartholomew, of Bluffton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home, Cartersville, Ga. Burial will be in the Georgia National Cemetery with military rites.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a fund set up for his son, Andrew Downard, 9417 Horse Creek Run, Kernersville, N.C. 27284.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jenningsfuneralhome.com.