LYMAN- Donald Herbert Libby, age 82, a proud veteran of the United States Army, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2023, surrounded by family after a long battle of declining health.
He was born in Portland, Maine on June 11, 1941, a son of the late George and Myrtle Mae (Hayman) Libby. Growing up he earned his nickname "Breadface" because of his love for bread which followed him into his later years.
Donald went to Portland Schools through the eighth grade and earned his High School Diploma while in the United States Army. He served a total of 12 years serving in the Korean and Vietnam Wars where he was the executive cook. He loved to talk about all the eggs, potatoes and pounds of bacon he had to make everyday to feed his fellow soldiers. While serving he earned the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Anyone that knew him knew he always wore his Vietnam Veterans hat.
Following his time in the service, Donald spent the next 30 years working for W.H. Shurtleff Company out of South Portland. He was a laborer and had many positions over the years but most often worked with barrels full of chemicals. He often talked about being one of the only ones able to move the 55-gallon drums on his own. After retiring he worked part time for Napa Auto Parts as well as O'Reilly's as a delivery driver and finally fully retired in 2014.
Donald met his wife, Diane Townsend, later in life and enjoyed 30 years of marriage with her. They loved to go for rides on his motorcycle and took many day trips often enjoying the White Mountains of New Hampshire as well as Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. They would often refer to each other as Big D and Little D. He would call himself Donald Duck and his family and friends knew him as Don or Papa.
Throughout his life, Donald was on a bowling league out of Westbrook, was part of the Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club and was also a member of the VFW out of Portland. He had a soft spot for cats and enjoyed many during his life with Pumpkin being his last baby. He had a love for chocolate especially chocolate cake, ice cream and pudding. He enjoyed watching WWE, car racing, baseball and football games. He also always looked forward to the yearly cookout that he and his wife, Diane, put on every year in June for friends and family celebrating his birthday, Father's Day and their Anniversary. He was known for being quite the jokester as well as testing your hand strength with his strong grip.
Donald is predeceased by his parents, George and Myrtle Libby, his sister Helen Gendreau and her husband, Fred, his sister Francis Collins and her husband, Donald, his sister Marjorie Valeriani, his sister Dorothy Nelson and her husband, Ted, as well as one grandchild, Sarah Hope Morgan.
He is survived by his beloved wife- Diane (Townsend) Libby, his son- Peter Buzynski, and his wife, Sandra of Dayton, his daughters- Paula Morgan of Biddeford, Michele Maggs of Limerick, Diana Mills and her husband, Scott, of Lyman, and Jennifer Provencal of Old Orchard Beach, as well as 15 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and several neices, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
A Military Service will be held on June 15, 2024, at 58 Hunters Lane in Lyman, Maine at 1 pm followed by a Celebration of Life BBQ and Cookout. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com
- Celebrating the Lives of Veterans -