- Date Of Birth: August 23, 1921
- Date Of Death: May 7, 2014
- State: California
Connie was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Clarence G. Letsom and Florence A Letsom. She was an only child and at an early age demonstrated a natural talent for song and dance. She was soon performing on stages in the Midwest under the stage name “Baby Connie.
As a young adult, Connie soon had the itch to see the world and this was realized when she married Navy Hospital Corpsman Woodrow Downs. As a military wife she simply called him “Downs.” Connie used to write a Christmas letter each year and send it out to family and friends. Perhaps the best description of their marriage comes from the Christmas letter of 1981, the year he died. She writes, “the Downs’ household will be mourning over the death of Connie’s shipmate, husband and best friend – Chief W.W. Downs.”
Connie loved, and was most proud, of her three children. She dedicated the family room of her house to display pictures of them from infant to adult and all ages along the way.
Connie believed in civic responsibility and the importance of getting involved in her community.
Connie was preceded in death by her husband Woodrow Wilson Downs. She is survived by daughter Karen Lynne Christianson (Allan), son Robert Lee Downs (Maxine) and son Jeffrey Scott Downs (Susan); two grandchildren (Shelly and Scott) and four great-granchildren (jonathan, Lindsey, Megan and Logan.)
