ForeverMissed
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His Life

a brief history

March 6, 2019

Donald was born in Johnstown Pa. His family lived in a small mining town, Bakerton, in western Pa. His father, John Foreman, was a mine superintendent for the Sterling Mine Corp. Don’s mother was Helen Foreman and he had an older brother, Jack Foreman. The Foreman’s lived 2 doors up from the Harris family. Bill Harris was a good friend of Dons and eventually became his brother in law when Don married Anna Jean Harris. By all accounts, they lived a Norman Rockwell childhood.

Don was active in the boy scouts and spent a week at the scout camp at the New York Worlds Fair in 1934. He graduated from Carrolltown High School and went on to Penn State University where he was studying Electrical Engineering.

After his freshman year in collage, he enlisted in the Army Signal Corp and was sent to Washington University in St Louis for further training. He was sent to France and onto Germany working on reestablishing communications networks that had been destroyed during the war.

After his discharge, he returned to Penn State and received a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Meantime, he reconnected with a childhood friend from Bakerton, Anna Jean Harris. They were married and lived in Bakerton as he continued training with IBM. Jean continued to work as an RN at Spangler Miner’s Hospital.

Daughter, Donna, was born in the Spangler Hospital. The family moved to the State College Pa area as Don continued with IBM. Their 2nd daughter, Patricia Jean was born there.

Don then transferred to the IBM operations in Endicott, NY. They bought their first home on Torrance Ave in Vestal, and their third daughter, Karen Lynn, was born there. Later the family moved to their “dream home” on Redwood Lane in Vestal. They lived there for 48 years. Don took early retirement from IBM and they enjoyed their “golden” years traveling and visiting their daughters and their 2 grandchildren.

Eventually, age caught up with them and they moved to Conway SC for a warmer climate and to be closer to their daughters for help and caring. Don passed peacefully in the afternoon of March 5th with family and caring friends.

Don and Jeans ashes will be interred at the cemetery in their beloved Bakerton, PA.            A lovely circle of life.