Donald Irwin, Sr.

Obituaries

Wednesday, 14 April 2021 05:49

Funeral services for Mr. Don Irwin were held on Monday, April 5, 2021 at Grant Memorial Chapel with Rev. Mike Shaneyfelt officiating. Interment followed in Free Home Cemetery.
Don was born in Gadsden to Marcus and Nell King Irwin on Saturday, April 19, 1941. After his father died of cancer when Don was 18 months old, his mother remarried Ervin Johnson, and they moved to Cullman where they farmed. In 1955, they bought a farm near Grant, and he attended DAR and played basketball. in 1956, He met his future wife, Faye Davis at the popular swimming hole in Columbus City. They soon began dating and were married on Saturday, January 24, 1959and were best friends for 62 years. He started working at the Times Journal, then returned near Grant where he and his sister-in-law commuted until he began work at the Huntsville Times in 1962 where he worked for 38 years. Don was in the newspaper business for a total of 41 years and retired in 2001.
Don and Fay traveled quite a bit and built their home on Dug Hill Road in 1965, where they lived for 57 years. He was always content, whether he was at home or traveling. He was at his happiest being with his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family. If you could get along with Don, you could get along with anyone. He gave tractor and wagon rides to his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighborhood children, and he was good to all of them. Don would load up the kids on his truck and take them to the store for candy and ice cream or to a movie, car race or to go swimming. He was very patient with all of them.
Don also loved to play volleyball, horseshoes and checkers, which he was very good at. He loved Country and Bluegrass music and enjoyed picking his banjo. He also enjoyed wood carving, and he and Faye would travel to Missouri every March for a woodcarving seminar. Don was a good driver and was always the designated driver on road trips.
Their home was always the gathering place, and on Sundays, they would feed 20+ family members and friends. He would grill turkey, ham, pork butts, hamburgers, hotdogs, steaks, deep-fry chicken or fish with all the fixings. He always fixed plenty, and if you left there hungry, it was your own fault.
Mr. Donald Eugene Irwin, Sr. is survived by his wife of 62 years, Faye; children, Donald (Kelly Ann) Irwin, Jr., Marcus (Stephanie) Irwin, Kelly Irwin (Russell) Walden, Phillip Irwin; grandchildren, Brett Ayers, Misty (L.J.) Bellomy, Ashley Ayers, Dylan Irwin, Nathan (Abby) Irwin, Brad Irwin; great-grandchildren, Tyler Ayers, Tatum Ayers, Shia Ayers, Gavin Bellomy, Hudson Bellomy. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack Irwin; stepbrother, Carl Johnson; stepsister, Raba Vaughn; one great-grandson.
Flowers accepted or donated to New Salem Baptist Church on James Road, Owens Crossroads or to your favorite charity.