Charles Glen Downs, age 86, a resident of Sikeston and formerly of Risco, MO, died Thursday, June 2, 2022, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born May 14, 1936, at Model, TN, to the late Oliver Downs and Ocie Herndon Downs, Charles entered the United States Air Force at a young age and retired after 20 years of service. While in service to his country, he and his wife were stationed at a number of Air Force bases, both in the United States and abroad.  During the Vietnam war he was stationed in Thailand.   He loved to travel and was proud to say he had visited all 50 of the United States at least once and several countries abroad.   In 1974, after his retirement from the Air Force, he and his family settled in Risco, MO. He then went to work with Noranda Aluminum and remained there until his retirement in 1999.   He was a member of the United Steel Workers Union.

On August 17, 1956, he married Virginia Juanice Lamb, who survives of the home.

Also surviving are his children, Kathy (David) Klipfel of Portageville; Patricia Downs Brashear of Dexter and Robert Franklin Downs of Troy, IL; his grandchildren, Kayla Klipfel Schmitt, Clint Klipfel, Kyle Brashear, Emily Downs Wirth and Garrett Downs; four great grandchildren, Brayden, Harrison, Charlotte and Chase; one brother, Max Downs of Clarksville, TN and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Morris Downs, Roselle May, Frank Downs and Nell Welch.

The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until noon, Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Sikeston.

Graveside services with full military honors will follow at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.

Pallbearers will be: Robert Downs, Garrett Downs, Kelly Downs, Keith Copeland David Klipfel and Clint Klipfel.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.