Donald E Barnum

Donald E. Barnum, 90, of Howland Twp. 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 graduated in 1937 from Howland High School. In 1943 he joined the US Army and served with the 505th Engineering heavy 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 5 battle stars, the good conduct medal and 2 citations. After the war he returned to Warren and was employed by Sears Roebuck and Co. as a hardware dept. 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, OH, and 2 grandsons John Donald and Jared Andrew Morfchak both of Westfield Center, OH. He also leaves a sister Stella (Joe) Cairns of Dunedin, Fl and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother James and 3 sisters; Alta Bock, Hazel Rohrbach, and Annabell Bauer. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Monday Aug. 17, 2009 at the Howland Community Church. The Rev. Brian Byrne will officiate. Friends will be received from 2-4 Sunday at Roberts-Clark Chapel and for 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Crown Hill Burial Park. The family suggest material contributions be made to the memorial fund at Howland Community Church 198 Niles Cortland Rd. SE Warren, OH 44484 or to Celtic Healthcare Hospice 3530 Belmont Ave. Suite 7 Youngstown, OH 44505.