Dortha Elouise Downing, 96 year-old Weatherford, Oklahoma resident, was born November 2, 1918, in Colony, Oklahoma, to Benjamin Harrison and Florence Lula (MCElroy) Groff and passed away Friday, December 19, 2014, at Weatherford Regional Hospital in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Dortha was raised on a farm east of Colony, Oklahoma and graduated from Colony High School in 1937. On December 14, 1937, she married her high school sweetheart Virgil Downing and they made their home in Clinton, Oklahoma. In the early 1960s, they moved to Weatherford. Dortha loved fashion and shopping and she enjoyed her work in retail for over 30 years, most of which she spent at Rena Kays. She was active in the Methodist Church and supported her husband in activities at SWOSU. Dortha enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, and spending time with family.

Dortha is survived by one son, Charles Downing and wife, Nora Jane of Creede, Colorado; one daughter, Treva Downing of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Dawn Downing, Sean Downing and wife, Darcy, Ryan Hays and wife, Jamie, and Holly (Hays) Jenkins and husband, Mike; and five great-grandchildren, Kris Ward, Collin Ward, Brianna Downing, Tiara Downing, and Sierra Downing. Dortha made so many friends throughout her years and cherished them all. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and two brothers, J.D. and Benny Groff.