Donald R Tawney

Donald R. Tawney, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at his home in Fishers, Indiana. Mr. Tawney, Don, served as a pastor in the Church of God (Anderson, IN based) for over 50 years.

In his youth, Don received the call to ministry and in following that call left his birthplace and boyhood home of South Charleston, West Virginia, to attend Anderson College, where he met his future wife, Lenora Lewis from East Prairie, Missouri. Don and Lenora announced their engagement on December 12, 1953, at college Christmas formal held at the Kopper Kettle restaurant in Morristown, Indiana. Married on, as Lenora writes, “the hottest day of the year,” June 28, 1954, in East Prairie, Missouri, officiated by Rev. Hillery C. Rice, Don and Lenora began their journey together.

Don’s calling to the ministry took him and his family to Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Indiana, and Maryland. Don’s ministry was an offering given in humility, servanthood, and edification. Just like his Lord, Don came not to be served, but to serve, and he served not only by his persistence, steadfastness, and patience, but moreover by his words and acts of encouragement. How many lives this beautiful servant of God touched in over 50 years of ministry, we will never know.

In his youth and even well into his adulthood, Don was an excellent athlete, former southpaw pitching ace for the American Legion in South Charleston, an old-style two-handed basketball sharp-shooter, a steady and calm golf player, and a fearsome opponent across a Ping-Pong table. Don was also a carpenter, mechanic, and an artist. We are certain his sketch of the praying hands and his painting of the snow covered, harvested cornfield behind the family home in Mattoon, Illinois are still vividly present in the minds of Lenora and his children.

It is without a doubt that if all Don’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to the canvas, each one with a full set of colors and brushes, and were asked to, together, paint on the canvas what he meant to them, there would be tears, there would be such deep thoughtfulness, beautiful colors, lines, movements, shapes. And in the end, the painting would be nothing less than deep flowing love for each other and for Dad, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather.

From his peace right now up in heaven, Don continues to love Lenora, his companion and bedrock for almost 66 years. We know that Don is holding Lenora with heavenly love, heavenly purity, heavenly and never-ending thankfulness. Right now and forevermore, Lenora is as he has always seen her—the most beautiful angel God ever sent to this earth.

Don was preceded in his passing from this earth by his parents, Kelly and Mildred Tawney, his stepfather, Virgil Adkins, brothers Kelly Tawney, Jr., James Jesse Tawney, Allan Adkins, and sister Eva Louise Tawney. Don also had the blessing of knowing and loving siblings John Franklin Tawney, William Harry Tawney, Edward Lee Tawney, Joseph Wayne Tawney, and Linda Kay Workman.

Don will be missed by his wife, Lenora; his children, Donna, Don, Jr., Leigh Ann, and Brian; grandchildren, Derek, Evan, Joseph, J.B., Jordan, Megan, Emmaleigh, Brian, Benjamin, Tiffany, Keirsten, Kaleb, and Kage; great-grandchildren, Braydon, Sophia, Amelia, Samantha, AnaLeigh, Aubreigh, and Lillyana. Don is survived by his brother, Chester Adkins, sisters-in-law, Patsy Adkins, Donna McGhee, Betty Stanley, and Paula Lewis and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held on Saturday, May 16th, for the wonderful blessing of Donald R. Tawney, good and faithful servant of God.