Obituary of Donald P. Sturges

Donald P. Sturges, 87, of 1084 Panama-Bear Lake Rd. Panama, NY, passed away Wednesday (September 4, 2013) in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Buffalo, NY. A lifelong area resident, he was born April 23, 1926 in the Town of Harmony, Niobe, NY. He was a graduate of Panama Central School and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from August 14, 1944 to November 7, 1945 during World War II. Before his retirement in 1989, he was a semi-truck driver for 38 years working mostly out of Buffalo, NY terminals. He attended the Watts Flats United Methodist Church and was a longtime member of the Teamsters Union. He was also a member of the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club and the Thule Lodge. Don will be remembered as a great socializer who loved to visit and get to know people in their back yards. He always had something positive to say and would always praise people. He made many friends where ever he went, either at the coffee shop or on his many shopping stops. Surviving are several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, the former Signe M. "Sid" Nyberg Sturges who died April 22, 2006 and two brothers Stanley H. Sturges, Lloyd Sturges. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the Watts Flats United Methodist Church. Pastor Warren Van Dewark will officiate. Burial will be in the Panama Union Cemetery. Friends will be received for one hour prior to the service in the church. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd, Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Watts Flats United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1, Ashville, NY 14710.