Donald Lee Kerns, 83, of Frederick County, Virginia died Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center. Mr. Kerns was born in 1933 in Grimes, Virginia, the son of the late Isaac and Lelia Kerns. He retired from the United States Army in 1976. During his military career, he started his service inContinue Reading
Donald Lee Kerns, 83, of Frederick County, Virginia died Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center.
Mr. Kerns was born in 1933 in Grimes, Virginia, the son of the late Isaac and Lelia Kerns. He retired from the United States Army in 1976. During his military career, he started his service in the mess hall. Eventually, he ran and operated the mess hall in the later years of his service. In the last years of his military career, Mr. Kerns lived with a General and his wife as a General’s Assistant at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. He loved to fish when he was younger, but thoroughly enjoyed hunting, gardening, firearms, and taking walks; the outdoors was where he wanted to be. Through his life, he was always working on cars and keeping them running. After his military retirement, he kept working with different companies. His first civilian job was with Jack’s ARCO doing repairs and maintenance on vehicles for about three years. Then, he hauled apples for D.K. Russell and Sons for about five years. His final job that he had was maintenance at Mountain Falls Park for about five years in which he finally retired in 2004 from. Mr. Kerns was a NASCAR fan and traveled extensively with his late wife, Betty. He was a lifetime member of Moose Lodge 1283 and was still active in the American Legion and VFW groups in Winchester.
His wife, Betty Kerns, whom he married on October 15, 1955 in Williamsport, MD preceded him in death on September 10, 2014.
Surviving are sons, Randy Kerns of Winchester, Virginia and Terry Kerns and Michelle of Stephens City, Virginia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Kerns was preceded in death by sisters, Margaret Shephard, Helen Bailey, Anne Anderson and a brother, Charles Kerns.
The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Evangelist Charles Doughty officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.
Serving as pallbearers will be Stewart Cooper, Dale Kerns, Frank Greene, Sonny Higgs, Tyler Stine, and John Greenwalt.
Memorial contributions in memory of Donald may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia 22601.
Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com
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