Donald Staten

Donald Staten NEWTON Donald Rogers Staten, 82, of Davis Avenue, Newton, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Catawba Valley Medical Center. He was born May 24, 1929, in Catawba County, a son of the late George and Carrie Wingate Staten. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Finger; two sisters, Gladys Wilson and Gean Staten; and one brother, Eural Staten. He was a U.S. Army veteran and Prisoner of War. He worked for and retired from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where he was a trustee and a choir member. He is survived by two daughters, Geraldine (Donald) Wright, of Orangeburg, S.C., and Gwendolyn Gist, of New Jersey; a son, Adrain Parson, of Newton; a brother, O'Neal (Gail) Staten, of Shelby; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Gilbert L. Mc-Caskill officiating. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, at the church prior to the service. Burial will be held in Central Cemetery. Allen Mitchell Funeral Home of Newton is serving the Donald Rogers Staten family. Memorials may be sent to the family at www.allenmitchellfunerals.com.