ATHENS, Ohio –– Donald O. Skinner, 96, of Athens died peacefully in his home Sept. 9, 2025. He was born in Savannah, Georgia the third child of Dr. Homer Lucas Skinner and Nina Osborn Skinner.
Don’s father served in the United States Public Health Service which required several relocations for the family. Don spent his early school years in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from St. Peter’s Catholic High School in Staten Island, New York.
Don came to Athens, following his father’s, older brother’s and sister’s footsteps, in 1947 to attend Ohio University. He earned a varsity letter in tennis, was a member of Army ROTC and graduated with a degree in physical education. He was most fortunate to meet fellow classmate Therese Lavelle. They married September 22, 1951. A week after the marriage, Don entered the army and was stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
He was a Second Lieutenant in the Second Division, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd platoon leader during the Korean War. In January 1953, he received his First Lieutenant silver bars. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, as well as the Bronze Star.
Don enjoyed his work as a rural mail carrier and retired from the Athens Post Office in 1984. He was on the board and a founding member of the Le-ax Water District. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul Catholic Church and a Knights of Columbus member. He was a board member for the St. Paul Catholic School where his children attended, except his youngest son, as the school had closed.
Don’s greatest joy in life was raising seven children on the Lavelle family farm that he and Therese purchased in 1965. Don went from “city mouse” to “country mouse,” from knowledge he had learned from his father-in-law, mending fences, cleaning cisterns, horse drawn plowing and care of a large garden. He and Therese spent many summers canning and freezing the harvest.
He loved watching his children become parents and every grandchild and great-grandchild brought special happiness.
Don is survived by six children: Betty (Tim) Sexton of Athens, Donald Jr. (Cheryl) Skinner of Athens, Kathy Skinner of Hobe Sound, Florida, Jane (Greg) Leach of Grove City, David (Bridget) Skinner of Bidwell, and Doug (Stacy) Skinner of Shade, eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law Rosalie Skinner of Port St. Lucie, Florida, a brother-in-law Dr. Robert Trautman of Memphis, Tennessee and a sister-in-law Mary June Lavelle of Starkville, Mississippi.
Besides his wife and parents he is preceded in death by a son and daughter-in-law Daniel and Debbie Skinner, and infant grandson Kaelan Skinner, brothers Dr. Homer Skinner, Dr. Robert Skinner, Jerry Skinner and sister Betty Trautman.
The Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 38 N. College St., Athens, Ohio. Prior to the funeral, there will be a Visitation at 10 a.m. at the church.
Arrangements are with Jagers Funeral Home, Athens. Please share a memory or note of condolence on the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
