Donald Taylor Jr.

Donald Larue Taylor Jr., 87, of Hunlock Creek, passed away Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

He was born Oct. 7, 1937, and was the son of the late Donald L. Sr. and Vera Sorber Taylor.

Donald enjoyed his early years growing up in Beach Haven and Shickshinny and graduated from Shickshinny High School in 1955. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy until his retirement. Donald would tell the story of his mother taking him to the recruiting center in Berwick; he auditioned with his clarinet for the Admirals Band and was accepted into the band program and went off to the Navy that same afternoon without having a chance to say goodbye to his father.

Early in his Navy years, he traveled to Italy and shared great memories. He spoke of the food, drinks and scuba diving with his Navy buddies. Donald served one year in the Vietnam Conflict while traveling from camp to camp while entertaining troops with the Admirals band. He was a Navy sailor who carried both a rifle and a musical instrument.

Donald married Jeanette Rittenhouse Taylor on Sept. 16, 1961, and they traveled the United States together with his band performances. He was also an administrative assistant to the Fourth Naval District Band, Naval Base, Philadelphia. On Aug. 26, 1974, after 19 years and one day of service, Donald was honorably discharged as a First Class Musician, E-6, and returned with his wife to Hunlock Creek. He was then employed by UGI Power Company at the Hunlock Creek station where he spent 15 years of service and developed many friends and a lot of great memories. Donald was a member of the UGI bowling league, a volunteer fireman for the Hunlock Creek company and was an avid fisherman and hunter where he spent many hours in the woods with his late cousin, Bobby Taylor, of Berwick.

Even though Donald and his late wife never had children, he treated his neighbors John and Joanne Gerrity and their children, Jan, Johnny and daughter-in-law, Kathleena, as part of his own family. They never hesitated to introduce him as their adopted Dad and grandfather. When their family gained a granddaughter, he quickly became Pop Pop Donald to little Madeline, and they quickly became friends. Donald would visit her daily and always beamed with pride while interacting with her.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Francis Collini and his staff for their incredible talents, patience and their ability to introduce new solutions into his care over the past four years which has been greatly appreciated by them. The family would also like to extend a thank you to the Shickshinny Ambulance Company for their service that they provided on his last ride in.

Private interment was held in the Oakdale Cemetery, Hunlock Creek.

Arrangements are by Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home Inc., Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

Memorial donations can be made to the Oakdale Cemetery Association, 199 Swamp Road, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621.

Condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com.