Donald Chaney

The town of Chester lost its oldest native son with the passing of Don Chaney on October 1, 2014.  Born at home on September 12, 1922,  Don passed away peacefully at home ninety two years later surrounded by his loving family.

Don led a wonderful life in Chester with Mary Elizabeth Burgess Chaney, his childhood sweetheart and the love of his life.  Together they raised seven children who gave him twenty four grandchildren who in turn gave him thirty six great grandchildren, so far...   He lost Mary in December 2010 and they will be celebrating their sixty ninth wedding anniversary in heaven on October 27.

Don and Mary graduated from Chester High School in 1940 and were soon separated when Don joined the U.S Army Air Corp where he flew in support of the D-Day invasion of Normandy.  He went on to fly sixty five daylight missions in a B-26 Marauder over France and Germany, surviving  a midair collision during the Battle of the Bulge.  He was twenty three years old when he returned home, married Mary, started a family and joined the family business at Chaney Sunoco Service Station on Carolina Avenue in Chester which he operated for many years.  He also cofounded C&S TV Services, one of the nation’s pioneer cable TV companies.  In later life he ran the bait shop at Chaney’s and oversaw the annual 0hio River Catfish tournament.

In addition to his wife, Don was preceded in death by his father, Clyde “Pap” Chaney, his mother, Fay Leona Evans Chaney and his older brothers, Ralph and and Herb.  He is survived by daughters, Donna Bell (Robert), Carol Parkins (Bruce), Nancy Miller (Calvin), Mary Beth Cuff (William) and Kathy Dray (James).  He leaves his sons, Jerry Chaney (Jean) and James Chaney (Betsy).

Don loved his family, his town and its people, First Christian Church of Chester, his classmates, politics, the Pirates and Steelers, the Chester Sportsman Club, deer hunting and his World War II comrades.  

Friends are invited to say goodbye to Don on Friday, October 3 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 at the Arner Funeral Chapel, 607 Carolina Avenue in Chester.  His funeral is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at First Christian Church of Chester, 330 Indiana Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested contributions be made to First Christian Church of Chester where Don was a lifetime member.

 Service Information