Rev. Dr. Donald W. Fairchild

Rev. Dr. Donald W. Fairchild, 95, passed away peacefully with family surrounding him on the afternoon of April 20th, 2018. He was born in Otsego, Ohio on March 14, 1923, son of Dr. John Paul Fairchild and mother, Minnie Jane (Willis) Fairchild and lived in Antrim, Ohio until 1938. Donald attended Madison High School through his sophomore year. His family moved to Freeport, Ohio and graduated from Freeport High School in 1940. In 1945 he graduated and earned his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from The Ohio State University. He practiced in Cambridge, Ohio for 44 years until he retired in 1989. He served in both the Army and Navy during World War II and Korea. During his service he went from a P.F.C. in the Army to full Lieutenant in the Navy. He was a member of R.O.T.C. at The Ohio State University, Delta Sigma Delta (Dental fraternity), American Dental Assoc., one time President of the Muskingum Valley Dental Society, President of the Exchange Club in the mid 1950’s, F&AM Lodge #632, Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge and American Legion Post #4. Being called to the ministry in 1967, he served as a local pastor for the United Methodist Church, with charges in Indian Camp, Pleasant City, Cumberland, Hiramsburg, and Antrim/Winterset, until his retirement in 2006. Donald was blessed with a long life and great love for people and often said “God gives the talent; what you do with it is a gift to God and to your fellow man, so use it wisely”. He had a wide range of interests and talents that included RC modeling, photography, greenhouse and rose gardening, raising tropical fish and wrote a weekly column for the Daily Jeffersonian on the topic. He enjoyed collecting R. S. Prussia fine china. Skilled at wood carving, he also became an accomplished oil painter with a work in the Zanesville Art Center. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife Dorothy (Saft) Fairchild, second wife Irma (Stambaugh) Fairchild and a step-son Terry Stambaugh. He is survived by his children, Donald P. (Stephanie) Fairchild, David A. (Joyce) Fairchild, Deborah K. Kintner, Delores A. (Craig) West, Daniel E.(Tejuana) Fairchild and Douglas R. Fairchild, his sister Geraldine (William) Gilcher and step-daughter Roxann (Scott) Waddell. Additionally he is survived by sixteen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, one step granddaughter and two step-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be at Bundy-Law Funeral Home, Cambridge on Monday, April 23, 2018 from 4 to 7 pm. Funeral services will take place at Center United Methodist Church on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 11 am with Pastor Matt Wilson and Mark Beros presiding. Burial will be in Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Guernsey County or to any United Methodist Church. Don’s online tribute wall may be viewed and signed at www.bundy-lawfuneralhome.com.

Rev. Dr. Donald W. Fairchild

March 14, 1923 - April 20, 2018