Donald James Green, 68

GREENWOOD - Donald James Green of Greenwood died Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. He was 68.

Mr. Green was born Dec. 14, 1938, in Ellendale, son of the late John Barber and Anna Liza (Short) Green.

While in high school, he loved to play sports, especially baseball, football and wrestling.

Mr. Green started his freshman year at Lee College with the intention of becoming a minister. After his freshman year, he transferred to Peabody College for Teachers, which is part of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in education.

After college he went to work in Nashville as a teacher then moved to Florissant, Mo., to continue his teaching career.

In 1969, Mr. Green moved his family to Delaware where he became assistant principal at Dover Middle School, Dover. Mr. Green left his position of assistant principal after his wife, Martha, became ill and became a farmer.

As a farmer, he found that his schedule would be more flexible, giving him time to care for his wife. He worked in farming until the early 90s when he decided to work in real estate and then investment services.

Mr. Green served in the Army National Guard. He liked being his own boss and preferred to be out on his own. He loved to analyze figures and working with numbers. This came in handy as he was always involved in setting up and operating sports pools among his friends and family. He especially loved to spend time with his kids and grandkids, playing games and watching old movies, or as he would put it, agitating him.

He was a member and past president of the Greenwood Lions Club and was always there as a universal blood donor to give blood whenever there was a need.

Mr. Green was a very sociable person and enjoyed telling a good joke or two. He always greeted you with a smile and a strong handshake. Most important, Mr. Green was a devoted husband, father, grandfather as well as a trusted advisor and friend. He was always there for his family, for they were first and foremost in his life.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Martha Green, in 2003.

He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Mindy Green and Scott Nethercutt of Woodbridge, Va. and Caroline L. Green of Owings Mills, Md.; three brothers and three sisters-in-law, Bobby J. and Linda Davidson of Raynham, Mass., John L. Sr. and Marian Green of Greenwood and Richard and Priscilla Green of Milford; a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law, Keith and Chris House of Hampton, Conn.; four grandchildren, Amara Nethercutt, Caylin Nethercutt, Brandt Nethercutt and Dolan Nethercutt; as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Ave., Milford.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday in Reformation Lutheran Church, 613 Lakeview Ave., Milford.

Burial will be in St. Johnstown Cemetery, Greenwood.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Greenwood Lions Club Community Service Fund, P.O. Box 180, Greenwood, DE 19950.