Donald passed away peacefully on Feb. 10, 2026. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Barbara J. (Van Pelt) Derrick.

He was born on May 2, 1930, in Dayton, KY, the son of the late Oda (Pete) Melvin and Anna (Weidner) Derrick and sister of the late Carol (Derrick) Warman. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law Kimball and Leslie Derrick, daughter Cynthia Wengert, daughter and son-in law Jennifer and Shane Dobbs, sister-in-law Janice Bennett, grandson Jacob (Jessica) Wengert, step grandchildren Zach (Kelsey Dobbs), Asian Loori, Ben (Nadine) Sukys and Melissa (Mike) Burton, ten great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Donald grew up in Blue Ash, Ohio and graduated from Sycamore HS in 1948. He attended the University of Illinois where he studied architecture. He married his sweetheart, Barbara, on Sept. 2, 1950 and they had three children. Donald’s life was built upon his creativity and skills. At 23, he started a design/build business and built several homes in the Cincinnati area. After a few years, he accepted a position with GE Aircraft Division in Evandale where his work ethic and construction background quickly advanced him into facilities management and many Managerial Awards. While working at GE, and at the age of 31, he moved his family to a 50-acre farm in Blanchester, Ohio. He spent the next several years remodeling the house and the entire property into a working apple orchard with 3,500 trees. He led his children to develop a hard work ethic, and happy times, as they tended to all aspects of the orchard. After nearly 25 years of corporate life at GE, Don resigned his position to spend more time with his family and orchard life. He also partnered with his son, Kimball, to create a woodworking business that grew into KD & Steele Custom Cabinetry. He later designed and built his dream home for himself and Barbara and filled with custom cabinetry and unique design details.

Donald faithfully served his community. He was very active in the local Boy Scouts and helped lead a group of scouts to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Blanchester and later in life, Clarksville United Methodist Church. He and his wife hosted a young man from Laos, a family from Cambodia, and two exchange students from Africa and Japan. He volunteered many hours of his time and expertise with Clinton County Habitat for Humanity being directly involved in building over 40 homes. At 82, he and his wife moved to Ohio Living Cape May in Wilmington. While living there, Don and his good friend Charlie Lakatos had a cottage business designing and assembling cabinets for many homes in the area. He retired from that work at 88, but even then, he continued to occupy his time and creative mind building wooden 3D models of various types. Many of these are now proudly owned by children, grandchildren, and admirers at Cape May.

Donald was a talented, dedicated man, well respected for those qualities as well as a selfless, devoted husband and father. His patience with his aging, sense of humor and positive attitude were infinite. He will be missed by so many people whose lives he touched with his abundant kindness.

The funeral service will be held at 11AM on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 1668 State Route 28, Goshen, Ohio, where friends will be received from 10AM until the time of service. 

Interment will take place following the funeral at Sugar Grove Cemetery, Wilmington, Ohio.