Donald M. Irvin

Donald M. Irvin, age 93, of Burbank died peacefully on Thursday morning, August 27, 2020 after a period of declining health. 

He was born in Weilersville, Green Township, Ohio on November 25, 1926 to parents, Virgil M. and Esther Murray Irvin.  He was a 1944 graduate of Creston High School and served in the US Navy from 1944-1946.   He married Erma Christian on September 30, 1951 and they raised their family in Creston.  He was the owner and operator of Irvin of Creston Excavating and between 1974 and 2000, he produced model engines and farm machinery as Irvin’s Model Shop, Burbank, Ohio.  In 1970 he was awarded the Wildlife Conservation Award from the American Tree Farm System for planting thousands of trees on his Burbank property.  Donald had a life-long passion of enjoying nature’s beauty.  He excelled in his knowledge of gas and steam engines and experienced great joy up to his last days conversing with his gas and steam engine friends.

He is survived by Erma, his wife of almost 69 years; daughters and sons-in-law, Catherine and Jeffrey Coffey, Donna Schwartz, and Patricia and Richard Kitson; grandchildren, Daniel Schwartz, Amanda Schwartz, Douglas and Samantha Schwartz, Sarah Kitson and husband Tim Eyerdom, Mary Kitson, and Ben Kitson,; great-grandson, Solomon Anderson, and extended family Rachael, Robert, and Zachariah Anderson.  Also surviving are his sisters, Pauline Reese of Wooster and Carol Carpenter of Lake Wales, FL and nieces and nephew, Amy Macak, Joy Hinkel, Thomas Reese, and Molly Hill and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Robert Christian Irvin, and brothers-in-law Wayne Reese and Lance Carpenter.

Family and friends may pay their respects at Murray Funeral Home in Creston on Saturday, August 29th from 2:00-5:00 pm.  The family will not be in attendance.   A service for immediate family will be held on Sunday, August 30th.  The family wishes to thank Life Care Hospice for their help and kindness.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Creston Canaan United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1111, Creston, OH 44217 or to Life Care Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd, Wooster Ohio, 44691.

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