Obituary of Betty Downs Kirchner

Betty Downs Kirchner passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022 in Venice, FL, at the age of 94.

Born April 16, 1928 in Asheville, NC, to Wilford W. Downs and Trixie Jane Dryman Adams. Betty, or “Bud,” as she was known, was one of six children. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and homemaker. Betty graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington and lived most of her life in Northern Virginia. She was an active parishioner at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church from 1952-1963 and St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington from 1963-2005; she was also active with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. She was an avid golfer and member of the Washington Golf & Country Club in Arlington, VA. In 2018, Betty and James moved from Oakton, VA, to Venice, FL.

Betty is survived by her beloved husband of 73 years, James J. Kirchner; children: Julie Van Buren (William), Michael Kirchner (Rhonda), David Kirchner (Debra), Connie Vargas (Ivan), Susan Hartsuiker (Erik), and Mary Fenley (Carl, deceased); siblings: Virginia “Dinah” Brisbane and Carol Downs Wiles (Howard); grandchildren: Stephen, Bethany, Justin, Catherine, Ashley, Christopher, Nicholas, Jonathan, Jessica, Sara, and Phillip; and beloved great grandchildren: Andrew, Robin, Grace, Daniel, James, Tyler, Kaitlin, Brady, Savannah, Aiden, Grayson, Amelia, Logan, Ethan, Alexander, Nora, Isabella, Eamon, and Abigail.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Wilford W. Downs and Trixie Jane Dryman Adams; brothers: James W. Downs and Joseph A. Downs; sisters: Margaret D. Thompson and Blanche M. Kirchner; and son-in-law: Carl Fenley.

Services are to be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation in Betty’s honor to one of the following: Catholic Charities of the Arlington Diocese; Continuum Hospice Sarasota; or the Parkinson’s Research Group.