Don E. Willoughby

Don E. Willoughby
age 92, a lifelong resident of Dover, died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Born April 7, 1920, at Dover, he was a son of the late John and Grace Stull Willoughby. Don graduated from Dover High School, where he had been a member of the Phi Sigs Fraternity, and, at the onset of World War II, entered the service of his country in the United States Army. He served honorably receiving seven Bronze Stars with the Medical Detachment of the 105th Coast Artillery Battalion, Anti-aircraft, in the Mediterranean. Upon his discharge in 1945, he married the former Ruth Keppler. Don was employed by the General Telephone & Electronics Corp. for over thirty-seven years, retiring as a supervisor in 1982. He served as Dover City Councilman representing Ward 4 for many years, and was particularly proud of working with the Dover Fire Dept. to procure a new pumper truck in the 1980's. Don was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church at Dover, where he also served as an usher. He belonged to Dover Lodge No. 59, F.&A.M., for 60 years, was a life member of B.P.O.E. No. 975, also at Dover. Additionally, he belonged to the Independent Telephone Pioneers Assoc. Don loved the game of golf, and played at every opportunity. He was a great fan of Ohio State and Cleveland Brown's Football, and enjoyed travel many happy times were spent in both Sarasota, FL and Oglebay Park, W.Va.
Survivors include his loving wife, Ruth, of 67 years; his son, Doug (Marta) Willoughby of Dover; two granddaughters, Staci (Jeremy) Everett, and Holly Willoughby, both of Uhrichsville; four great-grandchildren, Daniel, Brock, Christina and Kathryn Everett; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by a sister, Ethel Diehl; and five brothers, Earl, Walter, John, Glenn and Ted Willoughby.
A funeral service will be held Monday, Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, with Pastor Bill Sowers of Broadway United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia officiating. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Sunday, Oct. 7, 24 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Don, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website. The family suggests that contributions in Don's memory be made to the Rainbow Connection, 123 S. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622.