Donald Kear

Donald Kear

DOVER — Donald G. Kear, of Canton, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Aultman Hospital at Canton following a brief illness. He was 83.
Born Jan. 9, 1929 on his family’s farm in Salem Township, he was a son of the late Perry and Jessie (nee Bruer) Kear.
He is survived by cousins, Della Coppler, of Carey; Berdine (Ray) Cramner, of Findlay; Donna (Clyde) Marshall, of Kettering; Norma (Gene) Sellers, of Marysville; and Marie Mitchell, of Saginaw, Mich.; sister-in-law, Barbara Sigurdsen; many friends, including Ralph Harshman, Jay Wilson and his caregiver, Joan Fisher.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty (nee Little) Kear, in 2006.
Mr. Kear graduated from Salem Township High School in 1947 and attended Findlay College before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He served  during the Korean War and upon his discharge, entered Ohio Northern University, graduating with a B.A. in psychology. He was employed as a teacher and guidance counselor in several Ohio school districts before returning to school to do graduate work in library science at Kent State University. He took a position as a high school librarian with the Osnaburg Local School District and moved to Canton in 1968. He retired in 1984 following 16 years with East Canton.
Mr. Kear had a lifelong love of music and began performing publicly, singing with a group called the Choralaines while in the military. He was a member of the Canton Civic Opera and performed with them for more than 25 years. He also participated in several productions of the North Canton Playhouse and the Canton Players Guild. Additionally, he did solo work in local churches. He belonged to the Canton MacDowell Music Club.
He was very proud of the fact that he had the chance to meet many radio and television celebrities during his lifetime, as well as three U.S. Presidents.
Mr. Kear was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church at Canton and later the Zion United Church of Christ at North Canton and sang in both church choirs. He also belonged to the Ohio Library, Stark County Library and Stark County Teachers associations.
He had a dog, Jackie.
In keeping with Mr. Kear’s wishes, he was cremated through the care of the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at Dover. His ashes were buried with his wife, Betty, in North Lawn Cemetery at Canton.  A service of committal was held Friday at the graveside.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Pd. (051912)

Posted by Daily Chief on May 18, 2012. Filed under Obits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry