Donald Phebus

Mr. Donnie E. Phebus, 93 of Frederick, passed from this life at 9:12PM, on 9/12/2024, in the home, he, family and friends built in 1955 with his beloved wife Simone Goodhart Phebus by his side.  They were married in 1984 and had been together as a couple for 19 years before marriage.

Born July 30, 1931 in Frederick, he was the son of the late Harry E. and Ethel M. (Stull) Phebus.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Juliann Gill (James) of Greensboro, GA and Laura Bromfield (Ray) of Gettysburg, PA, step-daughters, Tangie Joyner (Jack) of Walkersville and Tina Ausherman (Donald Jr., the son he didn't have) of New Market, 7 grandchildren, 1 step-grandson, 7 great-grandchildren and 1 step great grandson.  Donnie had many grandchildren and great grandchildren from son-in-laws.  All of his step children he thought of as his own.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Renee Marcinkoski (Ronald), sister, Doris Marshall and brothers, Clark Phebus and Larry Phebus.

At 14, Donnie was on the first YMCA swim team and placed first on the diving team.  He graduated in the last class at Frederick High School that went 11 years in 1948.  He worked at Landis Jewelry Store for his aunt and uncle, full and part time for 55 years doing jewelry repair and as a goldsmith, making a lot of gold nuggets until he was 70.  He was in the US Navy for 4 years serving in the Korean War on the USS Putnam 757 and USS Ellison 864 as a torpedoman.  Donnie worked at Fort Detrick as a Microbiology Technician and at the Environmental Protection Agency  as a Virology Technician in Greenbelt until his retirement in1982.

He was one of eleven owners of a hunting cabin in West Virginia and liked hunting with his buddies.  At home in the winter, he would feed the deer corn and had as many as 8 at one time.  He also liked fishing, 10 pin bowling, dancing and playing cards.  He and Simone owned a house at Lake Anna, VA for 39 years, where they had many good times with family and friends.  Of all the trips, he and Simone took, the one he liked best was when they drove for 30 days, from the northeast to the west coast, headed south and returned to the east coast. They also enjoyed a trip to Alaska by land and sea.

He was a life member of the following organizations the Frederick Elks 684, American Legion Post 11, VFW 3285, Frederick Moose Lodge 371 and the Middletown AMVETS Post 9.

The family will receive friends from 4pm to 7pm, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701.  The funeral service will be held at 1pm, on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at the funeral home.  The family will receive guests a hour prior.  Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

The family welcomes donations to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, AMDF, PO Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515.