Donald E. Barnum, 90
HOWLAND TOWNSHIP – Donald E. Barnum, 90, died peacefully at his home Wednesday Aug. 12, 2009, following a short illness.
He was born May 10, 1919 in Niles, the son of Samuel R. and Margie (Root) Barnum.
A lifetime area resident, Don was a 1937 graduate of Howland High School. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army and served with the 505th Engineering light pontoon Battalion landing in Normandy shortly after D-Day. He participated in campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern service medal with five battle stars, the good conduct medal and two citations.
After the war, he returned to Warren and was employed by Sears Roebuck and Co. as a hardware department manager in downtown Warren and as a maintenance supervisor at the Eastwood Mall store, retiring in 1982 after 39 years of service.
Don was a faithful member of the Howland Community Church for 85 years, where he was a deacon emeritus and a former trustee.
He was a Howland volunteer fireman for 21 years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant and also was an EMT and arson investigator.
He enjoyed gardening, yard work, bowling, fishing, and especially the Wednesday breakfast group.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor May (Young) Barnum, whom he married Aug. 28, 1940; a daughter, Denise E. (John) Morfchak of Lodi; and two grandsons, John Donald and Jared Andrew Morfchak, both of Westfield Center. He also leaves a sister, Stella (Joe) Cairns of Dunedin, Fla. and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, James and three sisters, Alta Bock, Hazel Rohrbach and Annabell Bauer.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at the Howland Community Church. The Rev. Brian Byrne will officiate.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Roberts-Clark Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Interment will be at Crown Hill Burial Park.
The family suggest that material contributions be made to the memorial fund at Howland Community Church, 198 Niles Cortland Road SE, Warren, OH 44484 or to Celtic Healthcare Hospice, 3530 Belmont Ave., Suite 7, Youngstown, OH 44505.
Visit www.robertsclarkchapel.com to view this obituary online or send condolences.
