Kay Ned Doster

Kay Ned Doster, 83, of Fort Wayne went to his Home in Heaven on Wednesday August 17, 2016, after bravely battling pancreatic cancer. He was at home surrounded by his family. He was the 3rd son of Ned and Lucile Doster and was born in Fort Wayne July 24, 1933. Kay is a 1952 graduate of North Side High. He married his high school sweetheart Melba Born on Oct. 3, 1953. They would celebrate 63 years of marriage Oct. 3, 2016. He was a member of the Indiana National Guard. He trained with the 3rd Armored Division in Fort Knox, KY, and served with the United State Army in Korea for 18 months.

Kay started working in his family business, White Swan IGA on Lima Rd, when he was 11 years old. As the business grew, new buildings were built and the grocery became White Swan Super Market in 1956. Kay had a big part in the expansion of the White Swan properties, including building the White Swan Shopping Center in 1958. In March of 1974, Ned, Kay, and Don bought Marsh Super Marker in New Haven, which was being shut down. After a major remodel, White Swan New Haven was opened. Kay managed this store as Nekado Foods for 21 years. Kay was President and CEO of three corporations; White Swan Super Market in Fort Wayne, White Swan Ralty Inc., & Nekado Foods in New Haven. He was active in the Retail Grocers Association as a Board Member & was instrumental in organizing the 1st Indiana Food Show held in Indianapolis. In 1993, he made the Honor Roll for Outstanding Independent Grocers in the Progressive Grocer Magazine. Kay enjoyed traveling, playing tennis and golf, racing Go-Karts, and owning special cars. He loved showing these cars in Rod & Custom Car Shows in the area. He loved boats and being around the water and over the years owned cottages on several area lakes.

After retirement, Kay and Melba moved from Fort Wayne to Siesta Key, FL and later to Sapphire Valley, NC and Lake Keowee, SC. During these years he continued to enjoy playing tennis, golf, & boating. In 2011, they moved back to Fort Wayne to be close to their children. They missed not having a lake place, so in 2014 they bought a vacation home on Crystal Bay, on Hamilton Lake. No longer playing tennis or golf, he again enjoyed boating and having the family come to the lake. Kay is survived by Melba, his loving wife of 63 years; daughter, Dawn, son Brian (Marta), and grandchildren, Chelsie and Luke; and his sister, Janet Hart. He was preceded in death by a son, Kirk; his parents, Ned and Lucile; and brothers DeMore and Don. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Kay N. Doster Memorial Fund- Fort Wayne Trails, 300 E. Main St, Fort Wayne, IN. 46802-1919