Don proudly served his country in the Army during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Following his military service, he built a successful career, working for NCR for 28 years, before transiting to General Motors until retirement.
Don was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He is survived by his loving children, Cathy (Larry) Manchester, and Mark (Diane) Lakes; grandchildren, Phillip (Jessica) Scheidweiler, Jennifer (Roth) Huston, Kyle Lakes, and Kevin Lakes; and great-grandchildren, Owen, Ryan, Jaxon, Raegan, and Elise.
Don enjoyed spending time on the Ohio River, taking his houseboat out with friends and creating memories along the way. With the sweet smell of pipe tobacco we always knew he was close by. He especially loved sharing stories from years gone by. Later in life he found joy in simple pleasures: spending many peaceful hours sitting on his porch, watching the birds, and feeding squirrels right from his hands. Throughout his life, he never met a dog that he didn’t love.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, 118 Woodland Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45409.
"Gone from our sight, but never from our memories."
