Our family is heartbroken to share that Robert (Bob) Downard peacefully passed away at 81 years old on May 15, 2026, in Warminster. He was born on January 21, 1945, in Toronto to George and Dorrian Downard.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 52 years, Joy; three daughters-Sandra (Jeffrey), Nadine, and Jan (Ryan); grandchildren Darius and Elden; plus his brothers Lenard (Roberta), Ken (Karen), and Skipper. Sadly, he was preceded in death by his brother Jim (Carol) and sisters Marge (Charlie), June (Russell), and Sue. Many friends and extended family will remember him fondly.
Bob was always the guy you could count on. Whether your boat engine was acting up or you needed someone to dance with all night long, he was right there for you.
Born in Toronto but raised in Mississauga’s Lakeview area as the fourth of eight kids, Bob trained as a marine mechanic. Folks around here knew him for building and racing cars, boats, and snowmobiles. He met Joy while working for her family, and they tied the knot back in ’74.
When not busy fixing things around Orillia, he loved spending time at his second home in Bobcaygeon with friends and family-fishing, boating, just soaking it all in at the trailer.
One moment he’d be proud of happened during the Port Credit Tank Farm fire in 1978. Using his launch boat, he helped free a tanker ship from the dock into Lake Ontario to stop what could’ve been a huge explosion.
The family wants to thank all the health-care workers who cared for Bob along the way. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital or Spencer House in Orillia as a tribute.
Cremation services are being handled by Carson Funeral Homes L. Doolittle Chapel at 54 Coldwater St. E., Orillia; phone number: 705-326-3595.
