Donald H. Putnam Jr.

Donald H. Putnam Ashland, KY

Donald H. Putnam, Jr., 87, died on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at Kingsbrook Life Care Center. He was born on July 3, 1922, a son of Donald H. and Hannah Russell Putnam. Donald was educated in the Ashland public schools and graduated from Ashland High School in 1940. He entered Washington & Lee University in September of 1940 and continued until entry into WWII as a member of the U.S. Army Air Force. He served in the United Kingdom as a crew member on a B-24 Liberator Bomber. He flew on 35 missions as a waist gunner. After completing this tour he returned to the US and continued training as a pilot until the end of the war at which time he returned to W & L and finished his education earning a BS degree with a special attainment in Commerce in August of 1946. At that time he started his employment with the Putnam Agency and was with the company through it's 100th birthday celebration and shortly thereafter the company was purchased by Peoples Bancorp of Marietta, OH in 2004. He served as past president of Kentucky Association of Insurance Agents, on the Ashland Board of Education for 8 years (Chairman for the last two years), member of the Board of Managers of King's Daughters Hospital and served 30 years on the Board of King's Daughters' Hospital where he was the Chairman the last year. He was a member and chairman of Ashland Boyd County Airport Board and served on the board of the Tri-State Airport. He was a private pilot for many years and had a true love for flying. Donald was past president of the Ashland Y.M.C.A. and chaired the drive to raise funds to build a new Y.M.C.A. He served as director of the Third National Bank of Ashland, past president of Ashland Rotary Club and past president of Bellefonte Country Club. He was designated "Boss of the Year" by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1970 and was a Kentucky Colonel. He was a UK Fellow and a member of the Society of Cincinnati. He was also a member of the Royal Poinciana Golf Club. He loved to travel and had the opportunity to visit all seven continents.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Laura Gaylord Putnam; a sister, Harriett Putnam Henry; and a brother, Louis.

He leaves behind his wife, Karlene; his daughter, Mary (Pierre) Cousineau of Salinas, CA; and their children, Michael of Boulder, CO, Jacqueline now residing in France and Adrienne of New York City. A sister, Hannah Fox of Maryland, A sister Betty (Walter) Huebner of San Antonio, TX.; a sister in law, Sally Putnam of Cincinnati, OH, a brother-in-law, Merton Henry of Portland, ME; a step daughter, Tammy (Austin) Major and their children, Becca and Austin III all of San Juan Capistrano, CA. A stepson, Scott (Bonnie) Kaufmann and their children Phillip, Hayden and Kendall, all of Mt. Juliet, TN and a stepson, Jay (Diane) Hannah of Ashland and their two sons Tom and Ben Hannah, both of Cincinnati, OH. He also leaves 15 nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Ashland with Reverend Jeff Queen and Reverend Tina Mussetter officiating.

Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday from 3:00 until service time.

Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery on Wednesday June 30, at 10:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make contributions to the Putnam Stadium Restoration Foundation, c/o Donna Suttle, 1520 Lexington Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 or to the Calvary Episcopal Memorial Endowment Fund, 1337 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101.

Arrangements are under the direction of Steen Funeral Home-13th Street Chapel, Ashland, Ky.

Online condolences may be made to www.steen funeralhomes.com