Donald "Curly" Keith Basinger, 91, peacefully went home to Jesus on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton, Ohio.
Don was born on December 9, 1932 in a log cabin in Pandora, to Gerald and Lela (Oberly) Basinger. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ruby Mae (Geiger) Basinger.
They have three children, Cindy (Tim) Luginbill, Deb Howell, and Todd (Kim) Basinger, all living in the Pandora area.
Don had five siblings, all sisters, who he often jokingly mentioned as a reason to feel sorry for him, Jo Ann (Arthur) Hilty, Betty (Forest) Kantner, Colleen (James) Wolfe, Connie (Robert) Sutherland, Judy (Mark) Stall, and many nieces and nephews.
Don and Ruby have 10 grandchildren; Keri (Tony) Hixon, Megan (Kyle) Reichenbach, Deric (Brianne) Luginbill, Tara (Dana) Cherry, Summer (Christopher) Thomas, Lacy (Josh) Moore, Noah (T.J.) Howell-Winkelman, Michael Howell, Jackson Howell, and Anna (Matt) McKinley.
They also have 32 great-grandchildren who knew him as GG Don; Eliana, Kya, and Everett Hixon, Graham, Lucy, Ruby, and Simon Reichenbach, Ariana and Sawyer Bowling, Selah, Hope, Roman and Gracey Luginbill, Beatrice and Veida Howell, Layla, Jovi, Crosby, and Bodie Thomas, Josh (Baylee) Moore, Dalton, Landen and Denver Moore, Tavian Tousley, Nadika, Isla, Kyrie, Rylen, and Zayden Howell, and Violet and Myra McKinley; and two great-great grandchildren, Esther and Callum Moore.
Don loved his family very much and was always interested in what was going on in their lives. He had a quick sense of humor and could always be counted on for a laugh with his repertoire of jokes.
Don and Ruby were May Day king and queen at Pandora High School in 1950. After they married in 1952, Don hauled milk for Geiger Bros. Trucking until he purchased Meadowbrook Lanes in Pandora. He and Ruby worked together there for 12 years, making many life-long friends. Don was a great bowler and was instrumental in starting the Putnam County Bowling Hall of Fame. Don enjoyed sports and was a life-long Cleveland Browns and Indians (Guardians) fan.
When they sold the bowling lanes, Don pursued a career in real estate, working with Richard Boehr Co. He then established a branch office in Pandora. Real estate and auctioneering seemed to go hand in hand, so he went to auctioneer's school in Indiana and became an auctioneer, first with Evan Burkholder and then on his own; later joined by his son Todd. Don sold many homes, businesses and land in the surrounding area. He later joined Bucher Realty and sold for Century 21, eventually opening American Tradition Realty Company in Findlay, Ohio. As a realtor, he traveled to Japan with other business leaders through the Sister Cities Association, working to bring industry to the area.
In the midst of all these years, Don owned, trained and drove several harness race horses. His first, favorite and best horse was Action. Don learned much about horse racing over the years from his late friend Mark Grismore. Don and Ruby began spending winters in Pompano Beach, Florida and did some harness racing there. Once they officially retired, they spent winters in Harlingen, Texas, making good friends wherever they went. Don perfected his shuffleboard skills there and enjoyed playing on the Bluffton court and others in the area up until several years ago.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, the church Don attended all his life.
Memorial contributions can be made to Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora or Mennonite Memorial Home: Benevolent fund.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/
