Donn W. Lorton Obituary (1926

Mr. Donn William Lorton, age 96 of Madison, Indiana, entered this life on January 6, 1926 in Springfield, Ohio. He was the loving son of the late John William "Bill" and Agnes Gertrude "Aggie" Balsis Lorton. He was raised in Springfield and graduated from Washington High School in Washington, Indiana in 1944. Donn was inducted into the United States Navy on January 27, 1944 in Washington, Indiana during World War II and rose to the rate of Seaman First Class and served aboard the USS Prince William CVE - 31. He was honorably discharged on May 10, 1946 at Great Lakes, Illinois receiving the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and American Area Campaign Medal. Donn returned home and was united in marriage on July 20, 1946 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana to Mary Louise Stratman. This happy union of 28 years was blessed with Marilyn, Donna, Sarah, Patti, Michael and John. Donn began a career in the power industry and worked for eight years for Ohio Edison in Springfield, Ohio and then moved to Madison in 1954 and worked as a shift engineer with the Indiana Kentucky Electric Corporation, retiring in 1988. Donn was united in marriage after the death of his first wife to Mary Carol Stanner on October 15, 1976 in Madison, Indiana. Donn and Mary Carol blended their two families together and he accepted her children as his own. Donn was a faithful member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Parish in Madison and had served as a greeter and usher, the Knights of Columbus, 3rd (Father Riehl 934) and 4th Degree (Prince of Peace Assembly 3002) serving (Navigator) and was instrumental in the Squires program, Fair Play Fire Company No. 1, the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion, the Clearing House, Prince of Peace Parish Thanksgiving End of the month meals, Pro-LIfe, Birthline and served his community wherever needed. Donn made his famous wooden pocket crosses with hearts and gave them and presented them wherever he could bless someone with the comment, Jesus died for all of us and our sins. He also enjoyed building floats for the Madison Regatta Parade and other events; one of his floats was of the Santa Maria and it traveled all over the State of Indiana and some of his floats of the American Flag did as well. He also volunteered multiple times in the Bronx with Mother Theresa and missionaries of charity. Donn was presented with the honor of Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Frank O'Bannon in 2001 and two Kentucky Colonel accolades, first by Governor John Y. Brown in 1983 and Governor Paul Patton in 2000. He was awarded the Madison Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award at its annual banquet in 1991. Donn loved to travel with his wife and traveled with his daughter in 2009 to the Holy Land, a trip that he greatly enjoyed. Donn died on Monday, December 19, 2022 at 11:55 p.m. at the Waters of Clifty Falls in Madison, Indiana surrounded by his loved ones. Please Click Here to View the Video Tribute Please Click Here to View the Funeral Service Recording A LOVING FAMILY Donn will be missed by his loving wife of 46 years, Mary Carol Stanner Lorton of Madison, Indiana; his loving children, Marylyn Kirchner and her husband, Joe, Donna Turner, Sarah Ray and her husband, Danny, Patti Welsh, Michael Lorton and his wife, Louise, Barbara McDonough and her husband, Dennis, Scott Karst and his wife, Michelle, John Lorton, and Beth Taylor and her husband, Bryan; his grandchildren, Tom Kirshner, Julie Lee, Jenny Baldwin, Louann Kirchner, Robert Turner, Jr., Daniel Ray, Kelli Schmidt, Buddy Welsh, Mandy Christensen, John-Michael Lorton, Mary-Louise Lorton, Lucy Lorton, Mindy Hoback, John McDonough, Jack Karst, A.J. Karst, Cody Taylor, and Cori Taylor; his 38-great grandchildren; his 10-great great grandchildren; his loving sister, Maripearl Kitchen; his sisters in law, Peggy Stratman, Gladys Stratman, Jeanette Hertz of Madison, Indiana, Sally McKenna of Madison, Indiana, Susan Burke of Charlestown, Indiana; his brother in law, Mike Scarff and his wife, Nita of Madison, Indiana; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, John William Lorton, December 18, 1973, his mother, Agnes Gerturde "Aggie" Balsis Lorton, died December 9, 1970, his first wife of 28 years, Mary Louise "Meecie" Stratman Lorton, died February 5, 1974, his great grandson, Skyler Ray, died September 28, 2016 and his sisters, Eldora Marie Gaines, died March 28, 2000, Martha Johnson, and Pauleen Bachellor, and his son in law, Robert Turner. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.,celebrated by Father Christopher A. Craig at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 413 East Second Street in downtown Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery in downtown Madison, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may visit from Tuesday 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. THE ROSARYThe Rosary will be prayed at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. MILITARY HONORSMilitary Honors will be provided by the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSThe Knights of Columbus Council 934 will honor Donn at the visitation at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to support the ministries of Birthline, Pro Life (Prince of Peace) and Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover or at the church. Online condolences, remembrances and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com Place An Online Memorial To send a flower arrangement in memory of Donn W. Lorton, please click here to visit our sympathy store.