Don Clites
Don Clites, 80, of Bobtown, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Asbury Heights in Mt. Lebanon, with his family by his side. Don was born January 10, 1943, in Bobtown, a son of the late Ray and Emma Jean Hinkle Clites.
He is survived by his daughter, Jill (Tim) Brennan of Pittsburgh. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Don was married for 53 years to the love of his life, Linda Smitley Clites, who passed away in 2018.
He was also preceded in death by his four brothers, James, William, Robert and Eugene Clites.
Don was a 1961 graduate of Mapletown High School and he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army after graduation.
He started his early career at Sterling Faucet Company in Morgantown, W.Va. He spent the remainder of his career as a coal miner, where he retired from the Cumberland Mine after 30 years of service and was a proud member of the United Mine Workers of America Local 2300.
He was an active member of the Bobtown United Methodist Church and called Bobtown his home for over 50 years.
He was a hard-working family man, who loved to fish, hunt and tend to his large garden of 45 years. He enjoyed canning all his vegetables and he loved sharing his garden with the neighborhood. He also loved football, watching movies, spending time with family and tinkering in the yard.
After retirement, he got to spend over a decade of his golden years with his favorite person, Linda. They got to relax, travel, do home improvements, and make memories.
He was a wonderful husband and father and to know him was to love him. He was a sweet, kind, loyal, and funny guy who loved his family very much. He had a very big heart and was happy to tell a story or joke to anyone who would listen. The world was truly a better place with him in it and he will be greatly missed.
A special and sincere thank you to Dr. Shauna Assadzandi, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Asbury Heights, Seniors Helping Seniors (Wendy), and Village Care Giving (Shyann) for their excellent and compassionate care. Don was blessed with amazing care givers and he loved them all so much.
Family and friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the time of a memorial service, Saturday, March 25, in Avery United Methodist Church, 1100 Gabby Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. There will be a celebration of life dinner onsite immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Animal Friends of West Virginia, 252 Brewer Road, Morgantown, WV 26508, or at animalfriendswv.org.