Mr. Donald K. Stearns

April 28, 1927 - April 17, 2010

Donald K. Stearns 82, of North Vernon, died at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Columbus Regional's Hospice Center.

Don was born in the home of his parents, Audley and Grace Stearns in Jennings Co. on April 28, 1927. As a young man, he sought his first fortune hitch-hiking to California at age 15. At 16 he worked for Texas Eastern building the gas pipeline thru Jennings Co. At 17 he joined the U.S. Navy to fight in WW II, where he found his fill of excitement in the Pacific at Guadalcanal and Midway. Returning to the states after the war it took him only two weeks to find his bride and lifetime partner Margaret Nestor in the suburbs of Boston. They were married in 1949, and moved back to Jennings Co. only to start another ten year adventure building oil refineries in Venezuela, Brazil, and the Philippine Islands. In 1968 he started his own business, Stearns Plumbing Contractors. That business survives today as Stearns Supply Center in North Vernon.

Along the way Don did manage to help Peg raise four of their own, and over a dozen foster children. In his longtime association with the Masonic Lodge and Rolling Hills Shrine Club, he served as President and entertained children as 'Popcorn' the clown. When all the child rearing was over, Don and Peg enjoyed 14 years of campground life in Florida and Indiana, never once sleeping in a real house.

He is survived by four children, sons Wayne (Priscilla), and Keith (Joyce) both of North Vernon, daughters Honey Bee (Mike) Murphy of Butlerville, and Peggyann (Rusty) Hamilton of Nineveh. Four grandchildren, Robbie Murphy and Ryan Stearns of North Vernon, Celia Hitchins of the Florida Keys, and Donnie Murphy USCG Pensacola, FL.; also two great-grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his parents, and wife Margaret of 59 years on August 31, 2008.

Funeral Information

Sawyer-Pickett Funeral Home 115 S. State St. will host memorial services on Friday 23rd, 4-8 p.m. Zion Baptist Church will host funeral services 11 a.m. Saturday, two miles south of U.S.# 50 on CR 200 S. at 400 W. Military and Masonic services will accompany burial at the Vernon Cemetery.

Donations Information

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Zion Baptist Church and VFW Post 2021.