Donald Burt Mead

Don left his earthly body to go to his heavenly home on November 22, 2019, but dementia gradually began taking away our beloved husband, father, and grandfather over a decade ago.  Don was born March 13, 1928 in Willoughby, Ohio to Roy and Ruth (Harper) Mead.  The family moved to Austinburg soon after that. Don graduated from Austinburg High School in 1946.  He served in the U.S. Army, being stationed in Korea and the Philippines. The GI Bill helped Don attend Case Institute of Technology, where he received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1951.  Don started his career with the rubber industry in Akron and taught at the Ashtabula Joint Vocational School for several years before retiring from SCM Chemicals in Ashtabula in 1991.

Don met Jane Langworthy, the love of his life, at the Austinburg Roller Rink after graduating from college, and they were married in Rock Creek on June 7, 1953 and bought and remodeled a fixer-upper home in Jefferson, where Don resided until needing skilled nursing care in 2017.

A gentle soul with a quirky “dad” sense of humor, Don delighted in gardening, bird watching, weather watching, being with family, reading, photography, woodworking, camping, fishing, and being a granddad.  He was the president of the board of the Henderson Memorial Library when their current building was constructed.  He has been a member of the Jefferson United Methodist Church for nearly 50 years and served as an usher and as a Trustee over the years.  Don was also a charter member of the Jefferson Historical Society.

In addition to his wife Jane, Don is survived by his daughters Cindy (John) Deliman and Wendy (John) Gibbons, his grandchildren Brian Gibbons (Lisa Pogue), Laura Gibbons, and Steven Deliman (Katie), and his sisters Edith Smith and Florence Vesey, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Helen, Howard, Francis, Margaret Fronce, and Alta Smith.  Don’s family is grateful for the care and support of the staff at Harrington House, the Ashtabula County Nursing Home, and Hospice of the Western Reserve.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM at the Jefferson United Methodist Church, 125 E. Jefferson St., Jefferson with the Rev. Doug Winner officiating.  Burial will be in Oakdale Cemetery with military honors.

Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 10-11 AM.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Jefferson United Methodist Church (above address) or Hospice of the Western Reserve, 1166 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, OH  44004.  The Fleming & Billman Funeral Homes and staff, Jefferson, Ashtabula & Geneva is privileged to serve the Donald Mead family.  To express condolences, view obituary or light a candle visit fleming-billman.com

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