Thursday September, 25 2014 @ 10:00

Nature: Memorial Service – Donald J. Addor

On Thursday, September 25th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company participated and attended the Memorial Services for Life Member – Donald J. Addor.

Don was awarded a life membership with distinction for his dedication and diligence to the volunteer fire service and residents of his community. Don served in various positions performing secretarial, clerical, fire recorder, and photography duties as well as many advisory roles within the fire services. Most of all, Don was the radio communication person at the Main Station during emergency incidents.

Don joined the volunteer fire services at the age of 53 and served 35 years, 5 months, and 14 days.

In one of his autobiographies, Don wrote that he pledged to be a certified firefighter.” However, he was still an active fireman, certified or not, and answered every call that he could. He also attended the meetings and helped in decisions concerning the business of running a fire station. He did this until his Veronica passed away. Then he relocated residentially outside of the fire district. At his last fire company meeting night, Don turned in his running gear and radio. He handed the chief (Snooty Mosley) his badge and identification as a member of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company. Don was instructed to hold on that for a bit. Later during the meeting, Don was awarded a life membership with distinction! Don was amazed and deeply appreciative of the fire company. He cannot put into words the pride and other emotions he felt while being honored. The feeling was very much the same as when after five years at the University of Maryland he walked across the stage and received his degree.” Don continued to write about his time in the volunteer fire service as well as his life experiences dealing with an artificial leg.

Additional information may be viewed at:

http://www.watsonfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2704395&fh_id=13945

DONALD J ADDOR

(July 12, 1925 - September 18, 2014)

Donald J. Addor, age 89, died peacefully at Bayhealth Medical Center Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, Delaware, on Thursday, September 18, 2014. The cause was heart failure.

Born July 12, 1925, in Washington, D.C., to Jules and Genevieve Addor.

Don graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 4, 1943, at the height of WWII, receiving basic infantry training at Camp Croft, South Carolina.

After shipping overseas with the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion of the10th Armored Division, part of Patton’s Third Army, he saw action in the Moselle-Saar Valley and in the defense of Bastogne, where he was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.

He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Belgian Croix de guerre, and the Medal of a liberated France.

Following the war, Don attended the University of Maryland and received a degree in journalism and public relations.

He worked as a public information officer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and later as the assistant editor on All Hands Magazine, the official publication of the U.S. Navy.

After retirement in 1970, he moved to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where his parents had owned a summer home for many years.

As a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War, he served as the commander of Rehoboth Beach VFW Post 7447 as well as commander of District 4.

He was also a life member of the American Legion and commanded Legion posts in both Rehoboth Beach and Millsboro, Delaware.

His proudest achievement, however, was being the founder and first commander of the Oak Orchard Riverdale American Legion Post 28, which has become one of the largest Legion posts nationally.

Don held lifetime memberships in many other organizations too, including the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He belonged to the American Society of the French Legion of Honor as well as to the Sons of the American Revolution. In service to his community, he was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-09 and a life member of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Co.

An avid reader of mysteries, he still found time to write three autobiographical books of his own. In the ’50s and ’60s, he was an amateur sports car racer who belonged to the Sports Car Club of America. Later he became an antique automobile aficionado who ran a restoration shop in Millsboro. He maintained memberships in both the Eastern Shore Region Antique Automobile Club of America and the Historical Vintage Car Club of Delaware.

Cartoonist, watercolorist, oil painter—he was even once a freelance photographer for The Washington Star newspaper and later the manager of a country-and-western band. Widely known for his quick wit, when recently served some unusually small Harvard beets for lunch, he was heard to say, “Those don’t even look like they graduated high school.”

In 1985, Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Veronica.

He is survived by his son, George Addor, and daughter-in-law, Deborah Addor; stepdaughter, Sharon Day; four grandchildren, Christian Addor, Victoria Addor, Leah Addor, and David Addor; and great-granddaughter, Isabelle Addor. He will long be remembered as a loving father, stepfather, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Delaware Veterans Home for making his stay so nice over the last three years.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oak Orchard Riverdale American Legion Post 28, 31768 Legion Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966 or to the Indian River Volunteer Fire Co., 32628 Oak Orchard Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966.

Additional information may be viewed at:  www.CapeGazette.com

http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/funeral-service-held-for-esteemed-veteran-donald-ador/1248137