Donald Dobbs

Donald Dobbs, 87, of Lewisburg, passed away Thursday, June 11, 2020 at his home with his wife by his side.

He was born December 18, 1932 in New Rochelle, NY, a son of the late Donald and Priscilla (Towle) Dobbs. On April 6, 1986, he married the former Glenn A. Brown, who survives him. Together they celebrated 34 years of marriage in April.

Don was a 1950 graduate of Mamaroneck High School, NY where he was elected President of his fraternity. He graduated Bucknell University in 1954 where he became a proud member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and made lifelong friends. Throughout his life, he loved interacting with people in his work as an insurance agent. His perseverance and hard work allowed him to become the owner of Busse-Dobbs Insurance Agency in Mount Prospect, IL. He worked at his agency for 40 years before retiring with his wife to their home in Saugerties, NY.

Don loved the outdoors. All of his life, he found the time to cultivate beautiful vegetable and flower gardens in his backyard which gave him great joy. In addition, he loved to go for long walks and interact with those he met along the way. In his retirement, he and his wife, Glenn Ellen, fulfilled the requirements of the Catskill 3500 Club by climbing on foot each of the 35 Catskill Mountain peaks above 3,500 feet. And, at the age of 80, he climbed Mt. Washington in New Hampshire “in his favorite checkered golf slacks.”

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed tennis, fly fishing, golfing and Bucknell Bison sports.

Loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, he will be remembered by his family as a man of integrity, humility and wisdom who was never too busy to listen and care. 

Surviving in addition to his wife are his children, Jennifer McLysaght, of Wheaton, IL, Elizabeth McCarel and her husband, Matt, of Fishers, IN and DJ Dobbs and his wife, Lynn, of Naperville, IL; two step sons, Arch Owen and his wife, Debbie, of Amesbury, MA and Hank Owen and his wife, Lisa, of Medford, NJ; one sister, Priscilla “Kit” Ritz, of Saugerties, NY; four grandchildren, Caitlin and Kelly McLysaght and Ryan and Kara Dobbs; five step grandchildren, Alex Owen and his wife, Mollie Lunn, Brittany, Christian, Ella and Amelia Owen; and one step great-grandchild, Clara Owen.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Randall Dobbs who gave his life in defense of our country in World War II, a step son, Carter Owen, and a nephew, Andrew Ritz.

Services will be held privately in the near future.

Burial will be held in the Lewisburg Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 18 Market St. Lewisburg, PA 17837.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis Streets, Lewisburg.

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