Dona Lee (Merriman) Valentine, 86, passed away on May 11, 2016.
She was born June 6, 1929, in Circleville, the third child of Willard and Mildred Merriman.
At the time of her birth, the family lived in the Octagon House and managed the farm, a life-long source of pride for her.
Dona graduated from Circleville High School in 1947. She took part in Junior Girl Reserves, Senior Y Teens, Glee Club and basketball. She was cheerleader for four years and was selected Homecoming attendant two years.
Dona had fond memories of attending stage shows in Columbus and dancing at the Circleville Youth Canteen.
In 1948, she married Donald E. Valentine. As members of the Greatest Generation, they settled down, worked hard and raised three children to appreciate family, respect freedom and value education.
Dona enjoyed visiting historic sites, gardening and listening to live music from Nat “King” Cole at Buckeye Lake to the Boston Pops in Symphony Hall.
Dona was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister, Annabell; a niece; a nephew; and her two cherished beagles, Snicker 1 and Snicker 2.
Surviving are daughter, Valerie Valentine; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Cindy (Sims) Valentine and Rob and Laurie (Noggle) Valentine; grandchildren, Kellen Valentine, Kory and Darci (Radabaugh) Valentine, Kara (Kyle) Davis, Ella Valentine and Donald Lake Valentine; great-grandchildren, Landrie Valentine and Weston Davis; brother, Adrian Merriman; brother-in-law, Robert Valentine; sister-in-law, Delores Rogols; several nieces and nephews; special cousins, June McAfee and Rosemary Ankrom; and long-time friends, Joanne and Don Woodward, Jim and Louella Carter and Louise and the late Ed Webb.
Respecting Dona’s wishes, no calling hours will be observed. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Forest Cemetery with Pastor Kevin Gruver officiating.
In lieu of flowers, Dona would have appreciated contributions in her memory to Partners for Paws, P.O. Box 282, Circleville, OH 43113.
As the 1947 CHS yearbook stated: “She followed her own sweet way.”
Arrangements were made with Defenbaugh-Wise-Schoedinger Funeral Home. Visit www.schoedinger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
