Donald D. Spar, 96, born in Ada, was a WWII veteran
Donald Dwight Spar, 96, died at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at Otterbein Cridersville.
Don was born March 29, 1923, in Ada, Ohio, to the late David Dayle and Lucille Ada (Barnes) Spar of Ada, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Charles, Karl, Ralph "Flip" and sister Mary Edith (Spar) Frederick. On July 19, 1945, he married Esther M. Hochstettler of Bluffton, Ohio.
Don was a dairy man throughout his career, retiring from Borden Dairy. He was a licensed real estate agent as well. An Ada High School graduate, he attended The Ohio State University, studying dairy technology.
He served as Staff Sergeant in the United States Army's Central European Campaign of World War II. His unit was bound for Czechoslovakia through Bischofteinitz in the German Sudetenland. Instead they went from Le Havre to Paris and Paris to Nuremberg and the barracks of a former SS camp. In Nuremberg they joined the 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion, Second Army.
Don was a member of the First Evangelical and Reformed Church of Lima where he served as a deacon. He volunteered with the Lima Red Cross. For many years he attended the Lifelong Learning Institute at Ohio State University at Lima since their founding in 1991.
Surviving are his wife, Esther M. Spar; son, Richard L. Spar and his daughter-in-law, Jody Spar of Tucson, Arizona; his granddaughter, Carrie L. Klug; two great grandchildren, Madison and Matt; and his daughter, Emily S. Domurad of Essex, Massachusetts.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Ada. Reverend Dr. Gary Beatty will officiate the funeral beginning at noon. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ada.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Evangelical and Reformed Church, 320 W. Wayne Street, Lima, Ohio 45801.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, June 12, 2026
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
- Local students on ONU's Spring 2026 Dean's List
- Obituary for Kimberlee Ann Rayl
- NWS heat advisory for June 10
- Ada Gators open swim season at Bluffton
- Letter: Invitation to identify Day of Caring projects
- Randall L. “Randy” Clark worked for Cole Motor Sales
- AACC member mixer at Old Route 69 Brewery
- 5-acre refuge for pollinators and purple martins
- Local teen documents Ohio sightings of steam locomotive Big Boy
- United Women in Faith Ice Cream Social
- Ada Library to host Realm of the Reptile