In Memorium: Donald Arthur Casbon, 1930–2023

From his obituary, posted at https://angelcrestinc.com/obituaries/donald-arthur-casbon/:

Donald Arthur Casbon, 93 of Valparaiso, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Monday, August 21, 2023. He was born March 17, 1930, in Chicago, IL to the late Leslie and Charlotte (Finney) Casbon. Don graduated from Valparaiso High School and attended Valparaiso University. He proudly served in the United States Navy as a Weatherman in the South Pacific Islands of Guam and Yap during the Korean Conflict. Don made his career as a longtime Electrical Contractor and Wholesaler for his family business, Casbon Electric, which his father and two uncles founded, as well as owning and operating several different businesses of his own in the electrical industry. Don also kept active in the community through Kiwanis, Elks, NECA, American Legion Post 94, serving on the board at the Boys and Girls Club, and membership at the Valparaiso Country Club. He enjoyed going to church at Grace Chapel, golfing, and bowling. Don will be dearly missed. On June 25, 1963, Don married Melbaline Stone, who preceded him in death in 2009.

Don was my paternal uncle and my father’s only sibling. Other than his stint in the Navy, he lived his entire life in or near Valparaiso, Indiana. As a child, my siblings and I spent time with Don and Mel at their house on Institute Street in Valparaiso. I have fond memories of hanging out in the Casbon Electric Company building on Lincolnway. It seemed like Don always had a Cubs game going on the small TV in his office. When I was in college in Chicago, I spent breaks at Don and Mel’s house just south of “Valpo” in Morgan Township. This was on land that had been (and continues to be) in the family since my great-grandfather Lawrence L. Casbon purchased it from Herbert Fish in 1908. In more recent years, I stayed with Don when I came to Valpo for genealogy research as well as a family reunion in 2017. Don was interested in my research and provided me with one of the most valuable documents in my collection, a handwritten family history beginning with Isaac Casbon in England, and his son Thomas, the first immigrant in this branch to migrate to America, written in the early 1890s.

I was fortunate to be able to attend Don’s funeral with my father, Lew, and brother, Mike. It was a time to remember and celebrate his life as well as time well spent with Don’s children, Steve and Barbara, and their families. We also had time to see some of the old family homes and graves in Valpo and Porter County.

Here are a couple photos from my collection.