Donald Robert Stump, 71 of Virginia Beach, USA, passed away on Sunday, September 14th, 2014 at home surrounded by his family. Born on October 23rd, 1942 in Charleston, WV, he was the son of the late Donald Wilson Stump and Bertha Otillia Kubishke Stump and was raised in Vermilion and Sheffield Village, OH. Mr. Stump served his country in the United States Air Force as an aircraft electrical system specialist.
In February, 1965, he married Stephanie Ann Stapley in Trier, Rhineland, Palatinate, Germany when he was serving in the Air Force. Tragically, she was killed in an auto accident later that year in Germany. He met his second wife, Betty Lou Rubeck, in 1968 and they married in 1971. Together, they enjoyed both ballroom and square-dancing. His other interests included scuba diving, fishing, sailing and photography. He retired as an engineer.
Later in life, he became legally blind, and enjoyed books on tape. He was a member of the Hampton Roads Blind Veterans of BVA, and the Bayside Library Blind Group. Mr. Stump also was an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Betty Lou Stump; a son, Donald E.L.R. Stump of Tuscon, AZ; three daughters, Genette Lynn Stump, Danielle Rose Stump, and Michelle Renee Stump, all of Virginia Beach; two grandchildren, Justin Wade Stump and Ethan Robert Stump Wiley; a sister, Virginia Anne Stump Ksenich and her husband, Timothy A. Ksenich of Sylvania, OH. Besides his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Charlie Ross Stump and Julia Ellen Brake Stump; his maternal grandparents, Gustave “Gust” Martin Kubishke and Amelia Albrecht Kubishke; and his brother, Charles Richard Stump.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 21st from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Family Choice Funerals & Cremations, 5401 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach. A celebration of Mr. Stump’s life will take place on Monday, September 22nd at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 4780 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Monday at 3 p.m. at Albert Horton Memorial Veterans’ Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road, Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family, c/o Betty Lou Stump at Chartway Federal Credit Union.
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We thank you for your service to our country, Mr. Donald Robert Stump.
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My love and prayers are with you and your family Betty. Am so glad we were able to get together those couple of times while I was in Virginia Beach. What fond memories that leaves for me. What a sweetheart he was. Love to all.
I’m sorry Don had to leave Betty, but your family needs you. He was such an inspiration and help to me in Virginia. Life here has taken us apart. Some day, I’ll get to meet the girl he married.