Donald L. Champion, age 86, of Barnes, died peacefully in the afternoon of June 27, 2015 surrounded by his family, in Hospice Care at the Warren Manor after several bouts with pneumonia following lung cancer.
He was born in Warren and lived in Tiona until he joined the US Army Air Corps (Air Force) immediately after graduating from Warren High School in 1948. He served in the US Air Force for 6 years, where he met his wife, Lorinia Ruth Steele from Maryville, Tennessee. He was proud of serving his country as a Staff Sargeant and Flight Engineer during the Korean War and was particularly proud of flying in the Berlin Airlift.
He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and loved to shoot trap. he was a "pretty good shot" from a young age, which was proven when his neighbor took him to the Rod and Gun Club at the age of 11, and had Don shoot a piece of chalk out of his hand with a .22 rifle. Yes. .. they were different times for sure, to say the least.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and step-parents, Dirl and Bernice Champion and Paul and Agnes Stanley; a sister and brother-in-law, Glenn and Lilyan Grosch; sister-in-law, Avonelle Champion; an infant brother who died at birth, James Champion; a son, Larry Champion and a granddaughter, Stephanie Saber.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth Champion in Barnes; a brother, J.D. Champion of Youngsville; a son, Paul Champion of Traverse City, MI; daughter and son-in-law, Frank and Judy Work of Challis, ID; a daughter and son-in-law, Fred and Donna Kukla of Traverse City, MI; grandchildren, Sarah Singer, Scott Kulka, Lindsey Kuykla, and a great grandson, Joseph Pedrotti.
Friends are invited to his memorial service at the Barnes United Methodist Church on Monday, July 6 at 6 p.m. A military burial will follow at the Barnes Cemetery. The Borden-Lloyd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to: The Barnes United Methodist Church, PO Box 960, Sheffield, Pa. 16347; The Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 551, Sheffield, Pa. 16347; Sheffield Ambulance Service, 318 S. Main Street, Sheffield, Pa., 16347; Veterans' Emergency Fund, 204 4th Avenue, Warren, Pa. 16365; or the DAV Transporation, 905 West 4th Street, Warren, Pa. 16365.
Donald L. Champion, age 86, of Barnes, died peacefully in the afternoon of June 27, 2015 surrounded by his family, in Hospice Care at the Warren Manor after several bouts with pneumonia following lung cancer.
He was born in Warren and lived in Tiona until he joined the US Army Air Corps (Air Force) immediately after graduating from Warren High School in 1948. He served in the US Air Force for 6 years, where he met his wife, Lorinia Ruth Steele from Maryville, Tennessee. He was proud of serving his country as a Staff Sargeant and Flight Engineer during the Korean War and was particularly proud of flying in the Berlin Airlift.
He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and loved to shoot trap. he was a "pretty good shot" from a young age, which was proven when his neighbor took him to the Rod and Gun Club at the age of 11, and had Don shoot a piece of chalk out of his hand with a .22 rifle. Yes. .. they were different times for sure, to say the least.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and step-parents, Dirl and Bernice Champion and Paul and Agnes Stanley; a sister and brother-in-law, Glenn and Lilyan Grosch; sister-in-law, Avonelle Champion; an infant brother who died at birth, James Champion; a son, Larry Champion and a granddaughter, Stephanie Saber.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth Champion in Barnes; a brother, J.D. Champion of Youngsville; a son, Paul Champion of Traverse City, MI; daughter and son-in-law, Frank and Judy Work of Challis, ID; a daughter and son-in-law, Fred and Donna Kukla of Traverse City, MI; grandchildren, Sarah Singer, Scott Kulka, Lindsey Kuykla, and a great grandson, Joseph Pedrotti.
Friends are invited to his memorial service at the Barnes United Methodist Church on Monday, July 6 at 6 p.m. A military burial will follow at the Barnes Cemetery. The Borden-Lloyd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to: The Barnes United Methodist Church, PO Box 960, Sheffield, Pa. 16347; The Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 551, Sheffield, Pa. 16347; Sheffield Ambulance Service, 318 S. Main Street, Sheffield, Pa., 16347; Veterans' Emergency Fund, 204 4th Avenue, Warren, Pa. 16365; or the DAV Transporation, 905 West 4th Street, Warren, Pa. 16365.
Inscription
SSGT US AIR FORCE KOREA
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
