Donald A. Fraley, of South Bend, met his heavenly father on Aug. 15, 2024.
Don was born on March 2, 1944, in Warsaw, to Patricia Johnson and Donald Fraley. After graduating from Warsaw High School in 1962, he soon settled in the Leesburg area, marrying Barbara Koch. Together they welcomed a bouncing baby boy named Patrick. Many years later in the late 1980s, Don relocated to South Bend upon marrying Beth Vasquez, bringing to the family a beautiful, little redhead named Lindsay.
Don explored many talents throughout his lifetime. He embarked on a career in construction, lending his skills to a variety of structures which remain standing today. For many years, he drove trucks, mastering the double trailer and triples, but most frequently hauling dairy. The majority of his years prior to retirement, Don worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Goshen and Notre Dame, where he had the fastest sorting hands known to man. Retirement didn’t slow him down too much as he joined Jordan Ford as a parts delivery driver for several years.
He was loved by so many, a man of great warmth and kindness, welcoming everyone he met with sincerity. He was always there for his family and friends to offer support, guidance, help of any type needed, spark smiles as a master joke teller, fix their lawnmower when all hope seemed lost or walk down memory lane with a funny and interesting story from childhood. Don didn’t just share his affection with those around him, he also encouraged others to do the same (known to “pass the phone”).
As a fan of bluegrass music, he was inspired to learn the banjo. An avid fan of racing, you could often find him at a regional sprint car event. He enjoyed fishing and all nature had to offer, including friend to many wild animals. With his artistic talents, he had a real knack for drawing or recreating cartoon strip characters and scenes.
The love he gave will forever be remembered by those surviving after Don, including his son, Patrick Fraley with wife Tina (Clouse), and grandchildren, Taylor and Nathan, of Milford; and daughter Lindsay with husband Ryan (VanVleet), and grandchildren Hannah and Montana, of Walkerton. Don is also survived by his cherished sister, Tanya Weirick, of Palm Coast, Fla. Preceding Don in death were his mother, father and younger brother, Steve Fraley.
A visitation for Don will be held at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, on Friday, Aug. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will follow at the funeral home on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. with the doors open for the public an hour prior.
To leave a condolence, visit www.TitusFuneralHome.com.