Donald Garland Diehl Sr., 67, husband of Joyce (McCormick) Diehl, of Mt. Sidney passed away surrounded by his loving family Saturday, September 6, 2014, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg.
Mr. Diehl was born on September 22, 1946, in Virginia a son of the late Leon and Mary Lee (Furr) Diehl.
Donald retired as an Operations Manager from Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative in January 2011 with forty-four years of service. He was a member of the Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren.
Don started at Shenandoah Valley Electric when he applied for an opening as a Lineman in the Augusta District in April of 1967. He was a lineman until 1978 when he became District Superintendent in Augusta County and then came to Mount Crawford in 1991. Some kind words from a co-worker at his retirement: "The man who made his way to upper management not by climbing the ladder but by climbing with his hooks. Don was a man that knew what it takes to keep the consumers\u0027 lights on first hand. He was always there for the men. He knew by doing the work himself what the men were going through in the field."
Since his retirement, Don liked to travel and manage the many renovations of his 100 year old Farm House where he lived all of his adult life. He was involved in the Brethren Disaster Ministries, volunteered at the Verona Food Pantry as well as the Weyers Cave Volunteer Fire Department. He loved his children and grandchildren. Education was very important to him, and he made sure they had college educations. Don was very proud of them becoming the adults they are today.
Don enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren and was very active in his children\u0027s activities as they were growing up. Boy Scouts, basketball, baseball, softball, Technology Competitions to name a few. He loved to hunt but wanted to instill hunter safety to his children. The National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes Event was his help to make sure they were educated in that field. He enjoyed his cabin in Highland County, loved to hike and just enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Don never forgot a name and never met a stranger. We will forever remember his smile and humorous ways. He will be missed by his family friends and co-workers.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Diehl was preceded in death by a sister, Dianne (Diehl) Sheets.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Joyce of thirty six years, is his step-mother, Helen Diehl; two daughters, Tonya Witherow and husband Rick, and Autumn Martin and husband Mason; a son, Donald Garland DJ Diehl, Jr. and wife Nicole; three grandchildren, Avery Witherow, Adrian Witherow, and Mikayla Martin; step-sisters, Denise Sager and husband Kenny and Diane Williams and husband Leonard. Don also enjoyed spending time with his five grand dogs.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 10, 2014, in the Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2014, by Ron Wyrick at the Weyers Cave Community Center, 682 Weyers Cave Road, Weyers Cave, VA 24486.
Active pallbearers will be Joe Ball, Rusty Rothgeb, Lyle Anderson, Steve Marshall, Eddie Meyerhoeffer, Jim Smith, Kenny Massie, Fred Shultz, and Joe Bartley.
Honorary pallbearers will be the class of 1964 of Fort Defiance High School as they celebrate their 50th class reunion which Don was a committee member.
It is suggested those desiring make memorial contributions to Weyers Cave Fire Department, 1235 Keezletown Road, Weyers Cave, VA 24486 or Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, Building Fund, 91 Valley Church Road, Weyers Cave, VA 24486.