Donald Thornton Gormley

Donald Thornton Gormley, 93, formerly of 128 James Street, Columbiana, Ohio, died early on March 16, 2021, at the Balfour Skilled Nursing facility in Louisville, Colorado. He had been a resident of Balfour for the past nine months after living in the home of his son Tom in Lafayette, Colorado.

Don was born in Columbiana, the son of the late Kenneth and Louise (Galbraith) Gormley and the grandson of the late Myrtle (Farmer) Gormley. His only sibling, sister Margaret (Peggy), died at the age of 3.

Don “Gump” Gormley graduated from Columbiana High School in 1945. While attending CHS, he was an avid basketball player, track runner and played the mellophone in the band and orchestra. He also participated in both the Junior and Senior Class plays. He joined the US Army at the end of WWII. In his words, Don spent his time in the service marching in victory parades and driving up and down the Pacific coast.

After returning from his service, he joined his dad at the Youngstown Sheet and Tube (later Republic Steel and other company names). He was employed there for over 40 years before retiring. Don’s love of driving then drew him to working part time with his nephew, Steve Bott, at the Columbiana Ford dealership.

He married Helen Bott of Unity, Ohio, in 1951 and the couple would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this coming May. They enjoyed camping, dancing and going to plays and out to dinner. For many years, they were part of the Columbiana “poolies” bobbing around Firestone pool. Don was a lifelong member of the Columbiana First United Methodist Church, which he attended regularly, and also the American Legion Post 290 and the Masonic Lodge.

He is survived by his wife Helen of Louisville, CO, and son David T. (wife Randi), and grandchildren Nathaniel and Mollie of Fairfield, Connecticut, and Emma Faulkner (husband James) of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, and great-granddaughter Elizabeth Rose Faulkner and his other son Thomas W. (wife Sandy) of Lafayette, Colorado, and granddaughter Reyanne Guerrero (husband Eric) of Erie Colorado and great-grandchildren Aidan and Madison. Survivors also include sister-in-law Joyce Garman (husband Roy) of Hartville, Ohio, and nieces Bethany Walker (husband Jim, daughter Hannah) of Palmyra, PA, and Heather Gerber (husband Christon, daughters Caroline and Claire) of Alliance, OH, sisters-in-law Joyce Bott of Salem, OH, and Judy Bott of Columbiana, OH, and a host of other loving nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are being handled by Heritage Funeral & Cremation Services of Lafayette, CO. A Life Celebration service will be held in early summer in Ohio when Don’s cremated remains will be interred in the Columbiana cemetery.

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