Harry Logan Downing, Jr.

Dr. Harry Logan Downing Jr. (“Tony”) was born on January 3, 1938, in Minneville, Missouri, to Harry Logan Downing Sr. and Ruby Evelyn (Swigelson) Downing. He passed away from multiple myeloma on July 26, 2026, at St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, Washington.

Harry grew up in Avondale, Missouri, and was the first person in his family to graduate from college, eventually earning a doctorate in physics from the University of Kansas.

During his lifetime, Harry sought the secrets of the universe. He taught physics at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for many years. He also conducted research at Ames National Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, and at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois. Moving to Port Townsend, Washington, Harry began a career at Thermionics Northwest, where he developed, among other things, a helium leak detector used by Boeing.

Harry liked people, and they liked him. He was a connoisseur and lover of fine things, from fountain pens to pool cues to guns to classical music to watches to clothing and more. He was an avid reader. He strived to be the very best at his many endeavors which included sailing, fly fishing, running, woodworking, backpacking in the Rockies, photography, pool playing and target practicing. Harry loved his family fiercely and was always there for them when needed. He will be deeply missed.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ralph Leonard Downing Sr., his sister Ruby Louise Vorbeck, his sisters-in-law Ona Downing and Loye Downing, and his nephew Ralph Leonard Downing Jr. (Cheryl).

Harry is survived by his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 68 years, Rosemarie; sons Sean Logan Downing and Michael Lazar Downing (Nicolle); daughter Christina “Tina” Downing Giulvezan; grandchildren Miranda Giulvezan and Chloe and Logan Downing; and his nephews Robert (Marla) and Steven (Kelley) Downing, along with his grand-nephew, Justen Downing, and grand-nieces Callie Downing and Kamryn Smith (Spencer).

We leave you with some of Harry’s favorite words from Norman Maclean’s novel “A River Runs Through It.“ “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world‘s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.” And now, some of the words are Harry’s.

Interment will be in Kansas City, Missouri, at a later date.

A memorial gathering will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, in the Port Townsend Community Center in uptown Port Townsend at 620 Tyler St. The poolroom doors will be open, just as Harry would have wanted.