Dean Spencer Downing was born on May 27, 1930 as the son of Joseph Emery and Iva (Spencer) Downing

He was first married to Mary Ann Vasicek and then married Marion R. Lindberg in 1987.

Dean died on November 22, 1997 at the age of 67 in Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County, Florida. He is buried at Ridgeway Cemetery in Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.