Donald L. Betts

Donald L. Betts, age 100, died peacefully of natural causes on June 27th, 2022 at Aventura at Bay Place (formerly Bon Secours) assisted living facility in St. Petersburg, FL. He was attended to by family members, and caregivers from the facility, Suncoast Hospice, and Southern Comfort Care.

Born in Johnstown, PA on August 13th, 1921, he is preceded in death by his parents William L. and Anna M. (Powell) Betts; brother Powell H. Betts and his wife Dorothy; brother Willis I. Betts and his wife Augusta; and nephew William Betts (late husband of Karen).

“Uncle Don” or “Unc” as he was fondly known by relatives, friends and caregivers alike, is survived by four generations of family: nephew Don Betts (husband of the late Kathy Betts); niece Carole L. Piemonte (wife of the late Pete Piemonte); great nieces Marie Piemonte, Theresa Piemonte, Michelle Bostian, Stacy Burkhart; great nephews Joseph Piemonte (husband of Tami Piemonte) and Brian Betts; numerous great-great nieces and nephews, and their children.

Donald attended Johnstown High School and served in the Army Air Corps during WWII from September 1942 until October 1945. Flying 51 missions as a waist gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, he survived when his plane was shot from the skies in a European theater air battle fighting the Nazi war machine. He was awarded the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze stars, and received a Presidential Unit Citation. He completed his military service as a gunnery instructor state-side and returned to Johnstown, PA where he managed a candy and sundries wholesaler, Conrad’s Wholesale, for 50+ years. He was a member of the American Legion for 77 consecutive years.

Donald’s life of service extended well beyond his military career. Upon his oldest brother’s death, he cared for Willis’ wife Augusta (“Gussie”) for 13 years while she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Then in 2013, shortly after relocating to St. Petersburg, FL, his niece’s husband, Pete passed away unexpectedly. Since his niece Carole was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Unc became her caregiver at age 92, 20 years her senior. He looked after her for the next seven years until they both were hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2020. After surviving COVID-19, he remained independent, staying active and mobile until two weeks before his passing.

Unc will always be remembered for his heroic service to our country, and his even more heroic love and service to his family. His humbleness, sense of humor, laugh, wit, and sharpness of mind will remain an indelible memory to those who knew and loved him. With his final mission in life complete, his soul has finally gone home and may now rest in peace.

Services:

A small service for family, friends and caregivers will be held Tuesday, August 2nd at 6:15pm at Aventura at Bay Place in St. Petersburg, FL.

Interment will take place on Saturday, September 24th in Donald's hometown of Johnstown, PA where he’ll join his parents in their final resting place. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00am at Hindman Funeral Home, 146 Chandler Avenue, Johnstown; followed by a military funeral at 11:45am at Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or American Legion Charities, Inc.

Past News on Donald L. Betts:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/military/2020/09/02/st-pete-world-war-ii-vet-recovers-from-covid-19-in-time-for-75th-anniversary-of-wars-end/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4oamDRfLTg

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https://www.tribdem.com/news/local_news/recognition-and-respect-daisytown-vet-first-recipient-of-legion-award/article_9f98fac6-9359-5add-8158-2aa8367da5f7.htm