Donald P Clabaugh

Donald Paul Clabaugh, 83, Altoona, went home to be with the Lord Thursday at Altoona Regional after a brief battle with brain cancer. He was born in Altoona, son of George Raymond and Catherine (Conrad) Clabaugh. He married Kathryn Marie Collier on Feb. 28, 1948, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Juniata. Surviving are his wife of 64 years; two daughters: Dana Miller and husband, Dr. Jeffrey Miller, and Sonya Vonada and husband, the Honorable Robert Vonada, all of Hollidaysburg; Samantha Leskie Jones and husband, Rob, in California, whom Don and Kathryn helped raise; four grandsons: Robbie, Donnie, Andrew and Matthew Vonada; a son-in-law, Terrance Detwiler; as well as four nephews and four nieces. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Claudia Marie Detwiler; two sisters; and a brother. Donald attended Altoona High School, Class of 1947. He was employed with Lafferty Trucking for 36 years. He was the owner/ operator of his own tractor-trailer, then retired as a driver with Imler Poultry after many years. He was a member of First Baptist Church for many year, and he had been a member and volunteered for ministry events at Calvary Baptist Church, where he drove for the bus ministry. Donald played football at Roosevelt Junior High School and Altoona High School as a center and a kicker. He enjoyed watching Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football, but especially enjoyed watching his grandsons' Hollidaysburg varsity tennis matches, hockey and football games and Little League baseball. Don enjoyed meeting and fellowshipping with his coffee friends in the morning. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles with his friends and especially adored his grandsons, and he was a selfless and loving father. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Juniata, and 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at First Baptist Church, with the Revs. William Pepper and Tyler Pepper officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to missionary Steven Baggott FIM, 55 S. 24th St., Allentown, PA 18104 or for missions at First Baptist Church, 1209 17th St., Altoona, PA 16601. www.maukandyates.com A Tribute to my father A girl could never ask for a better father. My dad was a font of unwavering love my entire life. He had the type of love that was kind, patient, undemanding, selfless, supportive and always concerned for my happiness and the happiness of others. He was always available to cheer me on or to comfort me as I sat on his lap and he wiped my tears. Never complaining, he worked hard to give his family a good life in all respects. Many a time my sister and I would sit on our front steps, clad in our bathing suits, waiting for dad to get home after driving his tractor-trailer all night long so he could take us swimming. He would try to get some sleep on the blanket but would always make time to play with us in the water. That was the type of father he was. And throughout my adult life I knew he was always there for me. A good sport, he was always ready to go camping and traveling throughout the entire Southwest, even enduring a leaking tent at the bottom of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to gallery hopping in Santa Fe. Dad has been an excellent father-in-law too, always wanting the best for us and ready to do whatever he could. Dad's body may have died, but the legacy of his love lives on in us. The best way we can honor Donald Paul Clabaugh is to nurture that love and give it away. I suspect he never knew he had already achieved the greatest success a man can have and that is the unending love of his family. I will miss my dad and thank him for his example of a life filled with love. Dana