George Sebenoler

GEORGE DONALD "DON" SEBENOLER, 91, died at 8:48 p.m. Feb. 24, 2007, at Lima Convalescent Home. He was born Nov. 13, 1915, in Kirby to Peter S. and Alice O'Rourke Sebenoler, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 16, 1940, he married Virginia Mae Gill, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and she died Feb. 9, 2004. Mr. Sebenoler was a 1933 graduate of Upper Sandusky High School. He retired from the Army on July 31, 1960 with 24 years of service. During his Army career he was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and, along with his wife, was a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941. He saw combat in New Guinea during World War II. He taught ROTC at the University of Dayton from 1949 to 1951. He was assigned to the American embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, from 1951 to 1955. He was the command sergeant major of the 3rd Infantry Regiment for the Old Guard in Washington, D.C., the official ceremonial unit to the president, from 1955 to 1960. After his retirement he moved his family back to Hawaii and worked for Special Services at Schofield Barracks. In 1971 they moved back to their home state of Ohio. He worked for the Ohio Highway Department of Transportation and retired in 1978. He was active, working out regularly and swimming until he was 87. He loved to read, mow his grass and he loved music. He was a member of St. Gerard Catholic Church and the local chapter of Pearl Harbor Survivors. He was a member of the WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Survivors include two sons, Patrick D. (Terry) Sebenoler, of Woodhaven, Mich., and Michael D. (Melinda) Sebenoler, of Elida; three daughters, Alice Leilani (Larry) Lewis, of Elida, Elizabeth "Betty" (Tom) Graham, of Spencerville, and Ann (Brian) Smith, of Lima; 16 grandchildren, Jason Ostrowski, Levi Ostrowski, Cody Ostrowski, Theresa Graham, Michael (Rachel) Graham, James P. Sebenoler, Kory Sebenoler, Michelle Sebenoler, Tyler Sebenoler, Zachary Sebenoler, Candice (Josh) Silver, John R. Christian, Melissa Smith, Muriel Smith, Stacy del Fierro, and George del Fierro; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Richard Sebenoler. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Louise K. and Virginia M. Sebenoler; and three brothers, Milton, Vernon, and Chester Sebenoler. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Gerard Catholic Church. The Rev. George Blasick will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani Cemetery, Lima. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, where a parish wake will begin at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.