Donald W. Rankin, age 95, of Sebring, died at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, August 14, 2011, at Crandall Medical Center.
He was born January 10, 1916, in Alliance, Ohio, to H.W. and Bertha (Wells) Rankin, and lived most of his life in the Alliance area.
A graduate of Alliance High School, Don graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland Florida, and received his Master's Degree from Ohio State University.
He taught Journalism, Psychology and English at Alliance High School, before becoming a School Counselor, retiring in 1979.
A U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran, Don served as a Pilot with the 33rd Fighter Group, 50th Squadron. He flew 68 combat missions, and retired from the reserves as a Captain.
He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, where he served as a Trustee, Chairman of various committees over the years, taught the Builder's Sunday School Class, and helped begin the day care center.
He was a member of the Board at the Alliance Country Club, member of Kiwanis where he served as president and through Kiwanis established the first Key Club for high school boys at Alliance High School. He also was a member of Conrad Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Sigma Delta Chi, and former member of the Alliance Elks and the YMCA Men's Club.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth A. (Johnson) Rankin, whom he married Aug. 14, 1946. (Don's death occurred on their 65th wedding anniversary.) Other survivors include his daughter, Carole A. (John) Essy, of DesMoines, Iowa; two granddaughters, Jennifer (Micheal) Gearman of Madison, Minnesota, and Rebecca (Gavin) Ching of San Diego, California; four great-grandchildren, Marissa and Trevor Gearman, Hazel and Holdan Ching; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Rebecca Lynn Rankin; one brother, Rev. Dr. Victor Rankin; a nephew, Dr. David Rankin and a great-nephew, Corry Rankin.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 18, 2011, at the Bennett Chapel at Copeland Oaks with Dr. Larry Rankin, a nephew, officiating. Friends may call from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Interment will be at Alliance City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ United Methodist Church, 470 E. Broadway St. Alliance, Ohio or to the Kiwanis Key Club, c/o Alliance High School, 200 Glamorgan St. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio 44601.
He was born January 10, 1916, in Alliance, Ohio, to H.W. and Bertha (Wells) Rankin, and lived most of his life in the Alliance area.
A graduate of Alliance High School, Don graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland Florida, and received his Master's Degree from Ohio State University.
He taught Journalism, Psychology and English at Alliance High School, before becoming a School Counselor, retiring in 1979.
A U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran, Don served as a Pilot with the 33rd Fighter Group, 50th Squadron. He flew 68 combat missions, and retired from the reserves as a Captain.
He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, where he served as a Trustee, Chairman of various committees over the years, taught the Builder's Sunday School Class, and helped begin the day care center.
He was a member of the Board at the Alliance Country Club, member of Kiwanis where he served as president and through Kiwanis established the first Key Club for high school boys at Alliance High School. He also was a member of Conrad Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Sigma Delta Chi, and former member of the Alliance Elks and the YMCA Men's Club.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth A. (Johnson) Rankin, whom he married Aug. 14, 1946. (Don's death occurred on their 65th wedding anniversary.) Other survivors include his daughter, Carole A. (John) Essy, of DesMoines, Iowa; two granddaughters, Jennifer (Micheal) Gearman of Madison, Minnesota, and Rebecca (Gavin) Ching of San Diego, California; four great-grandchildren, Marissa and Trevor Gearman, Hazel and Holdan Ching; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Rebecca Lynn Rankin; one brother, Rev. Dr. Victor Rankin; a nephew, Dr. David Rankin and a great-nephew, Corry Rankin.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 18, 2011, at the Bennett Chapel at Copeland Oaks with Dr. Larry Rankin, a nephew, officiating. Friends may call from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Interment will be at Alliance City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ United Methodist Church, 470 E. Broadway St. Alliance, Ohio or to the Kiwanis Key Club, c/o Alliance High School, 200 Glamorgan St. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio 44601.
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