Donald Eastburn, 84

MILFORD - Donald Eastburn, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 23, 2009, in Delaware Hospice Center, Milford, surrounded by his family. He was 84. Mr. Eastburn was born on Dec. 19, 1924 in Bear, son of the late Horace T. and Ida (Hutchinson) Eastburn. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving his country proudly during World War II and the Korean War. After his commitment to the service ended, he married the love of his life, Anna McCall in 1948 and started a family. Mr. Eastburn was employed for 20 years with the Diamond State Telephone Company. His love of animals prompted him to open and operate the Delaware Animal Care Center in Newark in 1967. He was also co-owner of East Construction Company. In 1979, he relocated to Clayton and built a thriving dairy cattle and farming enterprise, Cedarcrest Vu Farms, and later branched out into beef cattle and standard bred horses. He retired to Milford in 2005. Donald had an inspiring and personal faith with the Lord and was active in many fundamentalist churches over the years. He served as a Deacon, an Elder and a Youth Group leader. He loved singing and listening to the old hymns. He currently attended the First Baptist Church in Milford. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Billy Eastburn and Granville Eastburn. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anna Eastburn; two daughters and a son-in-law, Anne Adams of Newark, and Lynn and Gerald Savage of Milford; a son and daughter-in-law, Donald W. and Diane Eastburn of Clayton; a brother, Thompson Eastburn of Milford; a sister, Janet Jenkins of Toughkenamon, Pa.; four grandchildren, Ryan Savage, Jaime Carter, Duane Douglas and Branden Douglas; and four great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, April 27, 2009 at the First Baptist Church, 6062 Old Shawnee Rd., Milford, where friends may call after 9:30 a.m. Graveside services and interment with full military honors will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Gracelawn Memorial Park, Route 13, New Castle. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church, 6062 Old Shawnee Rd., Milford, DE 19963; or to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963. Letters of condolence may be emailed at www.delmarvaobits.com/rogers. Arrangements handled by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford.