Donald Lancaster

Donald R. Lancaster passed away January 19, 2022 at the age of 96. He was born February 19,1925 in Covington Ky.  His family moved to Frankfort, Ky where he attended Frankfort High School.  It was there he first met Betty Ann, his loving wife of 76 happy years. In February 1943 Donald, along with a dozen other seniors, graduated early in order to enter the military during WWII. He joined the Navy the day before his 18thbirthday.

Donald served in the South Pacific aboard The USS Stanly DD478, one of six Destroyers in Squadron 23.  His Squadron was awarded The Presidential Unit Citation for “Extraordinary Heroism in Action during the Solomon Islands Campaign”.  The Stanly also participated in The Battle for the Marianas Islands, Saipan, Guam, & Tinian Islands.  After The Battle of the Philippine Sea, the USS Stanly was ordered back to the U.S. for overhaul.  In November 1944 he was assigned to Anti-Aircraft Training Center in Point Montara CA.  In March of 1945 Donald and Betty Ann Wilhoite were married at Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco.  They lived in Half Moon Bay, CA.

On December 3, 1945, Donald received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy and went to work for The Bank of America in San Francisco.  In 1948, they returned to their home state of Kentucky and resided in Latonia, Independence, and Villa Hills.  Donald went to work for Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati while  attending the University of Cincinnati evening classes in accounting. In 1954 he went to work for the Randall Company.  In 1956 he joined The Central Trust Company in Cincinnati.  He worked for Central Trust for 31 years and retired in 1987 as Senior Vice President & Director of Data Processing and Operations.

Beginning in the 1960s, Donald also served as Treasurer for the Kenton County Board of Education, where he developed an investment program that generated over 12 million dollars in interest for the Kenton County School System during his tenure.  He retired as Treasurer of the Kenton County School Board in 1994.

After his retirement he worked for his son, James W. Lancaster, of Lancaster Associates & Planning, Westport CT.  He also worked for his grandson, Jayson Brunstetter of BrunstetterAppraisal  Inc., Louisville Ky. In 2018 they moved to Louisville, KY in order to be closer to family.

Don was a devoted & loving husband and father…a caring son and brother, good friend and neighbor.  He loved spending time with his family.  He enjoyed golf, fishing, and attending ballgames. He loved the Lord and was a living example of faith.  He was charitable, honorable, and respected, reaching out to help many in time of need. He was a faithful member and leader of Trinity United Methodist Church in Latonia.  In their elder years they began attending Immanuel United Methodist which was closer to home and their son-in-law was assigned as pastor.  Don very seldom missed a Sunday service during all of his 96 years until he was physically unable to do so.

Donald was preceded in death by only 9 weeks by his true love of 76 years, Betty Ann (Wilhoite) Lancaster…His parents Roy& Iona ‘Oney’ Lancaster of Independence Ky…his brothers J.W.’Dubby’(Puddy) Lancaster of NC, David (Helen)Lancaster of Erlanger Ky, & Kenneth Lancaster of Independence Ky. He is survived by his son Jim Lancaster of Bridgeport Ct and his daughter Sally (Paul) Brunstetter of Louisville Ky… his 5 grandchildren, Jayson (Stephanie)  Brunstetter of Louisville Ky, Amy Brunstetter of New Haven Ky,  Amber (Dan) Falkenberg of Westerville OH, Justin Lancaster of Bridgeport Ct, and Laura Hope Lancaster of South Hadley MA…and his 7 great-grandchildren, Grant, Garrett, and Griffin Brunstetter of Louisville Ky, Olivia Lancaster of Bridgeport Ct, and Levi, Ethan, and Carter Falkenberg of Westerville OH.

He was a true patriarch of our family and will be greatly missed.

A Visitation will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 5336 Old Taylor Mill Road, Taylor Mill, KY 41015 on Monday, January 31, 2022, from 11am until the time of Funeral Service at 12pm. Burial will immediately follow with Military Honor Guard.

Memorial Contributions suggested to Disabled American Veterans (dav.org).