Donald Lee Kitchen Sr.

TROY — Donald Lee Kitchen Sr. of Troy, Ohio, beloved husband, father, brother and uncle, passed away Sunday, November 1, 2020, at age 88. He died peacefully in his sleep, at his home, of natural causes. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio to Delbert Kitchen and Bernice Mauley-Kitchen.

Mr. Kitchen was preceded in death by his children, Rose Zella Kitchen, Michael Lynn Kitchen, and Steven Eugene Kitchen; his parents, Delbert and Bernice Kitchen; brother, James Kitchen; sister, Ruth Ann Kitchen; and brother-in-law, Robert Drake.

Mr. Kitchen is survived by his wife of 65 years, Karol Kay Laughman-Kitchen, whom he married March 26, 1955; his son, Donald L. Kitchen Jr.; his sister, Nancy Kitchen-Drake; his brother, Nicholas Kitchen and wife, Lorna Rees-Kitchen; his brother, Jon Kitchen and wife, Birdie Voorhees-Kitchen; as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nephews. Loved ones by marriage include Janice Laughman-Wertz and her late husband, Larry Wertz; Sonia Laughman-Dermis and her late husband, George Dermis; Rolland Laughman and his wife, Birdie Wright-Laughman; Audrey Laughman-Caudill and her husband, Jack Caudill.

Mr. Kitchen served active duty in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War Era, from 1951 to 1953. He worked for the former Brown-Bridge Mills in Troy, Ohio as a sheeter machine operator for forty-two years. He was an avid amateur woodworker, making a large variety of furniture, knickknacks, animals, and other unique creations, being well noted for custom inventions and artwork that improved the lives of his loved ones. He also loved home remodeling, motorcycle riding, camping, building elaborate campfires, and John Wayne movies. Late in his life, he fought and won a courageous battle with cancer.

Donald Lee Kitchen Sr. truly was a clever, honorable, honest, hard-working and generous individual, who never met a stranger and was well-liked and loved by a great many people. It is an understatement to say that he shall be greatly missed.

Private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family. Mr. Kitchen disagreed with cut flowers, so instead, please consider a small donation to the First Place Food Pantry, 721 Lincoln Avenue, Troy, Ohio 45373, 937-335-2826, or click 'donate' at www.troyfoodpantry.org.