Millicent Mildred Downing, 96, Columbia City, passed away at 3:35 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016, at North Woods Village, Fort Wayne. Born Oct. 21, 1919, in Huntington, she was the daughter of Dore and Nellie (Howenstein) Kitt.

In the second grade, Millie’s family moved to Columbia City and she went on to graduate from Columbia City High School with the Class of 1937. On June 26, 1938, she married Carl Fremont Downing. She had worked at Schultz Brother Department Store for 26 years, Ames Department Store and several years at the Columbia City Wal-Mart. She was a member of the Coesse United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, I-NE-A-BI Home Extension club and the Blue Lites Auxiliary of the Union Township Volunteer Fire Department at Coesse. She enjoyed traveling, bowling and golfing with her family.

Survivors include her son: Carl Wayne (Lois Ann) Downing, Columbia City; daughter: Karen Sue Schultis, Phoenix, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Carl Fremont Downing in 1974; grandchildren: Mark Downing; and Paula Woll; a great-great-granddaughter: Cassidy Garcia; sister: Evelyn King; and brothers: Guilford; Wayne; and Meredith Kitt.

Visitation is from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at the funeral home with Pastor Kevin Ousley and Chaplin Forrest Tabor officiating. Burial will follow at Union Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given her memory to Heartland Hospice.