Donald E. Fender

Donald Emerson Fender Jr, aged 85, of Hillsboro Ohio passed away peacefully on July 4, 2023 surrounded by family.  He grew up in Mowrystown OH graduating from Whiteoak High School in 1956. He then attended Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio receiving his Bachelors and MBA in Business Administration majoring in Marketing and Finance. He as a member of the Phi Kappa Tau and Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternities and received the Pacesetters Award. He was a member of the Air Force Reserve in both the Berlin and Cuban conflicts. Don then started his real estate career in 1963 joining Donald E Fender Realty, a firm established by his father Donald E Fender Sr. in 1948. Don had a history of extensive involvement in the Ohio Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors and the Realtors Land Institute. He became president of the 52,000 member Ohio Association of Realtors in 1979. He received the Omega Tau Rho award from the National Association of Realtors for Meritorious service. He became a member of the Merchants National Bank Board of Directors in 1972, serving on the board for 46 years and Chairman of the Board for 36 of those years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow member of the Hillsboro Rotary Club and belonged to the Hillsboro Elks Organization. He served as a member of the Highland County Hospital Foundation Board, The Highland County Community Improvement Board, the Y.M.C.A. Governing Board, the Highland County Childrens Home Corporation and was a past president of the Hillsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Don was a member of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. While at OSU he met his future bride Ann and they raised two boys. Don was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Ann Elizabeth (Sharkey) Fender. Left to honor Don and his memory are his sons Donald (Eric) Fender and his wife Connie of West Chester OH and Daron Fender and his wife Patricia of Mason OH, 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren. He is also survived by nieces Erin and Katharine and his dear niece Brenna Sharkey of Westerville OH: dear friends Jim Hopkins, Lisa Keyes and David Carter and the caregivers who took such great care of him, Amelia Cadwallader, Stephanie Crum, Samantha Haddix, Paul Derrick, Vanessa Lucke, Kimberly McCarty, Amber Wright, Chasity Beatty and Maureen Campbell. Arrangements are with Rhoads-Edgington Funeral Home Hillsboro Oh. Services will be at the First United Methodist Church of Hillsboro on Saturday July 8,2023 officiated by Dr. Derek Russell.  Family will receive visitors from Noon until 1:00 PM, Service at 1:00 PM followed by luncheon graciously provided by the Methodist church.  Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzhiemers Association of Cincinnati  644 Linn St #1026 Cincinnati OH 45203 or the Southern State Community College in Hillsboro.