Donald Lynn Heare

Donald Lynn Heare

     Fort Ashby, WV – Donald Lynn Heare, 73, of Fort Ashby, passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

     Born on November 10, 1950 in Cumberland, MD, he was the son of the late Donald Paul and Linda Lou (Cain) Heare.

     Don graduated from Keyser High School, Class of 1968, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on nuclear submarines, among them the U.S.S. Daniel Boone. After serving his country for six years, he returned to Keyser, enrolled at Potomac State, pursued his passion for physical therapy, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1980. He began his career as a staff therapist at Memorial Hospital, Cumberland. Don later went into private practice as one of the original partners of Progressive Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. He was an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with many roles including church council member and president, shared ministry president, lector, head usher, and supply lay leader. He was a member of Boyce Houser Post #41, American Legion, Keyser, and a volunteer transport driver for the Martinsburg VA Center. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. 

     Left to cherish Don’s memory are his loving wife Debra Diane (Ervin) Heare; daughters, Stephanie Perkins and Melanie Hedrick; granddaughters, Hannah, Abigail and Chloe Hedrick;  a sister, Karen L. Campbell (John), and brother, Stephen K. Heare (Sherri) He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Iva Jean Ervin, sister-in-law, Donna E. Rowley and numerous nieces and nephews.

     Friends will be received on Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Markwood Funeral Home from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm with an American Legion service held at 6:15pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 11:00am with Pastor Sally L. Bartling officiating. Friends will be received one hour prior to services. Entombment will follow in Potomac Memorial Garden Mausoleum, Keyser with Military Honors accorded by the United States Navy National Honor Guard and Boyce Houser Post #41  American Legion Honor Guard.

     If desired, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148-0142, Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

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