Rev. Donald Ray Staton

Rev. Staton was born in Rockbridge County, VA on June 10, 1940 to Edith Ray Ramsey and Donald Francis Staton. He was the son of a railroad man and the grandson of a preacher. He graduated from Buena Vista High School where he was an accomplished athlete in Hockey, Football and Basketball. He found the love of his life, Barbara Sue Petty, unexpectedly on a blind date, and they married on 06/12/1958. He went to school for civil and structural engineering and became a Draftsman with the VA Highway Department, which taught him problem-solving and self-discipline. He joined the Virginia State Police as a State Trooper in 1962 and served until 1967. During his service, he experienced and saw many things that gave him many questions which led to him to become disillusioned with the job. It left him with a huge hole in his heart, so he left seeking God, as he'd had enough of not having the answers he felt he needed. He then became an insurance salesman for a short period of time, which led him to meet a man who helped introduce him to God, and he experienced a spiritual awakening.

He moved to Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Sue, and became a draftsman again for Globe Iron of Norfolk, where he worked for many years. He also studied ministry during this time and took correspondence courses and studies, which he funded from sales from model trains, a childhood love and lifelong vocation. He met the late Reverend Dallas Plemmons, who, helped train him and ordain him as a great minister. He joined a church and served on missionary trips to Haiti. He also founded his own church and non-profit organization, Christian Mission Fellowship Church. He and my grandmother both served the community for many years with their organization by helping provide food and clothing to the needy. They fostered 17 children, adopted one and raised 3 children of their own. They also studied Herbology and started their own business selling herbs and vitamins. In 1976, he joined as a volunteer for the Virginia Beach Chaplain’s Division of the Virginia Beach Police Department and also as a sworn volunteer Auxiliary Police Officer. He became the Administrator and Head Chaplain of the City of Virginia Beach, known as "Chaplain 1," and supervised 22 chaplains. He ministered to and helped police keep control of Virginia Beach Oceanfront for over 30 years, which he called "Walking the Beat" where he said "If they listened, they got mercy, if they didn't listen, they got justice." He responded to those in crisis, both in uniform and non-uniformed civilians, and helped countless families deal with tragedy and death. He received many awards and honors during his service of over 40 years, and was a highly decorated and respected man in the community he served over half his life. Because of his tireless and energetic service spanning over four decades, his fellow officers simply referred to him as “Iron Man.”

During this time, he also lovingly served as caregiver to his wife Sue, who dealt with illness most of her life, and with the help of his children and grandchildren, would help care for her when he was out serving his duties as Chaplain and Auxiliary Police Officer and Minister. After the passing of his wife Sue in 2002, he then became caregiver to his daughter Donna, who also dealt with illness most of life, until he passed away.

After reaching the mandatory retirement age for a Virginia Law Enforcement Officer, he still served his community through the Christian Mission Fellowship Church. He started writing an online weekly newsletter called "Chaplain Corner" to Peacekeepers around the world for billionaire Erik Prince’s Blackwater USA training center in Moyock, NC, after its founding and continued this endeavor independently after Erik Prince sold the company. In addition to words of comfort and encouragement for Peacekeepers, it reported the deaths of all Peacekeepers in the line of duty and updating his own family life. He wrote several books and developed his own Discipleship Manual for anyone to study to become a Chaplain or Minister. He taught and mentored many people throughout his life. He suffered from a retinal detachment and glaucoma, which significantly decreased his visual acuity, then developed Congestive Heart Failure in his later years. But that didn't stop him, he still kept doing the Lord's work in any capacity he could up until his last days here with us. His philosophy was "Do the best you can with what you have and leave the rest to God." He also adopted the saying "You're never too old to learn". As long as he was alive, he was always learning.

Above all of these accomplishments, the greatest job he had was being a loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was predeceased by his parents, Edith Ray Staton (Ramsey) and Donald Francis Staton, his mother and father-in-law, James T. and Alma M. Petty, his beloved wife of 44 years, Barbara "Sue" Petty and his loving son, James E. "Jamie" Staton. Also predeceased by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Samuel "Sammy" and Shelby Petty and James E. "Eddie" Petty and Thelma Petty, Lewis Hayslett, Gary Dunman, and daughter-in-law's father Gerald Goldy .

He is survived by his children Donald T. Staton "Donnie" (Joy Angel Staton ), Donna S. Staton and Barbara D. "Barbie" Staton of Virginia Beach, Son-in-law Wilford "Marty" Martinez; grandchildren Leeanna Staton, Thomas R. "Tommy" Staton, Adam Staton, April D. Martinez (Reynaldo M. Banaag), Crystal M. Munden (John B. "Jon Jon" Munden, Jr.) and great grandchildren, Celina M. Banaag, Aaliyah M. Banaag, Alexandria "Lexi" F. Geoghegan, Laurence "JJ" Geoghegan VII, Matthew T. Jackson, Emery R. Jackson and one on the way, Phoenix R.L. Martinez-Harris. He is also survived by a host of family members, including his sisters and brothers-in-law, Jeanette Dunman and Daniel "Danny" Petty and nieces and nephews, Ralph and Randy Hayslett, Danielle Meador (Phillip), Jason Petty, Matt Petty, Alicia Petty and their children, all of Buchanan, VA.

Celebration of Life/Memorial Service for Rev. Donald R. Staton are to be held Saturday October 16, 2021 at 1p at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 5181 Singleton Way, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Dinner reception to follow at 4p at Aberdeen Barn at 5805 Northampton Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

The family has requested that donations be made in lieu of flowers and gifts to Barbara Staton at 1056 Little Bay Ave, #A, Norfolk, VA 23503. Condolences may be sent to or viewed at www.kellumfuneralhome.com."