Dean Calvin McDonald

SEBRING, OH - Dean C. McDonald, 88, formerly of Warren, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 29, 2013 at the Crandall Medical Center.

Dean Calvin McDonald was born on September 9, 1924, on a farm near Gallatin, Missouri. His parents were Orley Reed and Laura Elizabeth Shipley McDonald, who have preceded him in death. Three brothers, Frank, Junior, and Earnest McDonald, and a sister, Iva Harrah, also preceded him in death.

Dean graduated from Gallatin High School in 1942. He then attended Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri, in 1942 and 1943. In late 1943, he entered the service and served in the Army Signal Corps. His overseas service began in New Guinea and ended in the Philippine Islands. He was a high speed fixed station radio operator and also served as motor sergeant for the 4025th Signal Battalion in Manila. He was a staff sergeant. He served overseas approximately 19 months.

Upon his return from overseas in early 1946, he was married to Mary Alice Leopard on March 10, 1946. They resided in Kansas City, Missouri, for a short time while Dean attended an airline training school. Upon finishing the training, he obtained a position with a new feeder airline called Empire. He became station manager for that airline in Walla Walla, Washington, and was later transferred to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he also was station manager. He became a licensed weather observer, and for a time was the only licensed observer in the city of Twin Falls.

After a little more than two years with the airline, Dean decided he would prefer to be in business for himself. He and Mary returned east and moved to Canton, Ohio, where he received a year's training from his uncles in managing a fruit store specializing in tree ripened Indian River citrus. For three seasons he owned a business in Salem, Ohio, and then in May 1952, he moved to Warren, Ohio, where he took over the management of Shipley Orange Store. In 1964 he purchased the business, which he enlarged and continued to operate. In conjunction with the business, he built a large garden center and also began selling shrubbery. After a number of years, he sold the property and devoted full time to landscaping operations and became a landscape contractor. He retired in 1988.

Dean and Mary became the parents of two children - a son, Jerry Allen, born while they lived in Canton, and a daughter, JoAnne, born after they moved to Warren. They lived in Warren for more than 45 years.

Dean was a member and Past President and Honorary Member of the Warren Rotary Club. He had over 40 years of perfect attendance. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow and received the "Rotarian of the Year" honor in 2004. He was a member of Carroll F. Clapp Masonic Lodge as well as Valley of Youngstown Scottish Rite, where he was a 32nd Degree Mason.

Dean was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church in Warren, and he served faithfully on various committees throughout the years. He was also an associate member of the Union Avenue United Methodist Church in Alliance, Ohio.

In December 1997, Dean and Mary moved to Copeland Oaks Retirement Community in Sebring, Ohio, where they have continued to reside.

In February, 2004, Dean received a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the Residents Association of Copeland Oaks for serving as President of the Residents Association in 2002 and 2003. Also he was given an appreciation certificate for service as Resident Representative on the Copeland Oaks-Crandall Medical Center Board from January 2000 to 2004. He was so pleased by such presentations. He also had served for a time as chairman of the Grounds Committee.

Dean is survived by his wife, Mary A. McDonald, his son and daughter-in-law, Jerry Allen (Geraldine) McDonald of Virginia Beach, VA, his daughter and son-in-law, JoAnne (Stephen) Thompson of State College PA. and 5 grandchildren, Douglas (Emily) Thompson of Warrensville, IL, Mark Thompson of San Diego CA, and Bradley Thompson of State College, PA and Jason McDonald and Jenna (Sean) Walsh both of Virginia Beach, VA and a number of nieces and nephews in Missouri.

Visitation will be on Monday, April 1, 2013, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the Van Wye Room at the First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Ave in Warren. The Carroll F. Clapp Lodge #655 F&AM will conduct the Masonic Services following the visitation. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 1:45 pm at McFarland & Son Funeral Home, with visitation from 1:00 pm till the time of service. Pastors Rick Oaks and Yesudas Devadan will be officiating. Final committal services will be held following the services at Oakwood Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, First United Methodist Church, 309 North Park Avenue, P.O. Box 749, Warren, Ohio 44482 or to the Oaks Foundation of Copeland Oaks, 715 S. Johnson Rd., Sebring, Ohio, 44672.

Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland and Son Funeral and Cremation Services Co, 271 North Park Avenue, Warren, OH 44481, 330-393-9621. Please visit www.McFarlandCares.com to view this obituary, send condolences and order flowers