Donald B. Probst

Donald B. Probst was born on 20 July 1929 in Wilkes-Barre, PA., the son of the late James L. and Irene F. Febish Probst.

He and his wife the former Shu Yuan (Sue) Kung were married on 11 May 1970 in Tainan, Taiwan. He was preceded in death by his first wife Hazel N. F. Pruden Probst who died 19 July 1966 and is buried in Offord D’Arcy, England.

A 1947 graduate of Lock Haven High School he lived most of his life in Lock Haven area prior to enlisting in the U.S. Air Force on 22 Sep 1948. Prior to entering the service, he worked on the Old Kress Farm on the Island, as an Usher at the Roxy Theatre and as a paperboy for the former Mrs. Watson’s Lock Haven News Agency, also working 3 years for the A&P Tea Co. when it was located on E. Main Street. He was a member of the E. Main Street Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop for 5 years becoming a 1st Class Scout. He also was a member of the local Civil Air Patrol for 4 years obtaining the rank of Cadet 1st Sgt. He was one of the chartered members of the original Sons of the American Legion, Post 131, Lock Haven.

A retired Air Force Sergeant , he served with the 98th Bomb Wing as a B-29 Gunner in Korea from Aug 1950- Dec 1951. During the Vietnam War he served with the 377th Combat Support Group at Tan Son Nhut AB, from Feb 1969-May 1968. Between the wars he served in various parts of the world in Bomber, Troop Carrier, and Military Airlift Command. He retired from the U.S. Air Force on 1 May 1975 as Personnel Sergeant Major. His medals and decorations are displayed on his photo.

Don’s hobbies include stamp and coin collecting, model trains which he owned a complete English set (Tri-Angle Hornby) that included English people, houses, cars, animals, etc. He also enjoyed shooting mark with different rifles and pistols he owned. He was also involved in Genealogy. He was instrumental in tracing and documenting his Probst/Febish family history back to the 1600’s. His favorite sport was watching the Lock Haven High School football team play, never missing a home game.

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force he went to work for Hammermill Paper Group and ACME/BiLo Food Stores here in Lock Haven and as a Rural Mail Carrier out of Jersey Shore Post Office.

Surviving along with his wife are daughters Natalie F. Hatch of Rapid City, S.D and her husband AJ Hatch. and Sylvia H. M. Noll of Snow Shoe, PA and her husband Michael Noll; three sisters, Nancy Mechum, Cogan Station, Edith (Pat) Welch, and Mary Delaney of Lock Haven; 1 grandson, 2 granddaughters; 4 stepgranddaughters in the U.S., 2 stepsons and 2 stepdaughters. He was preceded in death by his brothers, William, Danny, Robert, Harold, and sisters Beverly Yearick and Janet Bloom.

Funeral services for Donald B. Probst will held Friday, July 28, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC, 121 W. Main St., Lock Haven.  Family and friends will be received in the funeral home one hour prior to services. Officiating will be Retired Pastor Bruce Wallace. Interment will be in the Dunnstown Cemetery with full military honors.

Online thoughts and memories can be made at www.GedonFuneralHomes.com or the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook page.

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