Donald W. ‘Don’ Bayless

March 7, 1938-Oct. 21, 2020

Posted

Donald W. “Don” Bayless, 82, of rural Alamo passed away at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, at Franciscan Health Hospital following a short illness.

Don was born March 7, 1938, at Crawfordsville, son of the late Oakel G. and Thelma Lucille Cornell Bayless. He married Sharron L. Williams on March 9, 1958, and she passed Aug. 30, 2011.

Don was a 1956 graduate of Alamo High School, where he participated in basketball and baseball. He was a lifelong resident of Ripley Township. He had previously farmed and continued to be active around the farm following his retirement. Along with farming, he was employed for 20-plus years as a proof-reader with RR Donnelley & Sons, and worked at Kroger, Montgomery Ward and also owned and operated the Alamo General Store.

He was a 50-plus year member of the Ripley Township (Alamo) Volunteer Fire Department, the Alamo Christian Church and served on the Alamo Cemetery Board. Don enjoyed watching sports, and for years had coached/umpired Little League/Pony League baseball. He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and was a meticulous landscaper who despised weeds. He was a loving dad, always there for his family, never met a stranger and loved to talk. He could walk into a restaurant full of strangers and leave knowing most of them!

Survivors include: daughter Sandy (Larry) Krout of Indianapolis; two sons, Darrell Bayless of Terre Haute and Dan Bayless of Waynetown/Crawfordsville; daughter Sheryl (Jerry) Link of Browns Valley; grandchildren, Brooke, Ryan and Rachael Bayless, Dani Bayless, Elizabeth, Logan and Emily Link; and six great-grandchildren also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother Edwin; and infant brother Carl Richard.

Visitation hours are 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26 at the funeral home, with Pastor Kevin Howey officiating. Graveside services will follow in Alamo Cemetery. The procession to Alamo Cemetery will be lead by Chief Steve LeJeune and the Ripley Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Ripley Township Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of your choice in his honor. Visit us at http://www.familyandfriendsfh.com to sign the guest book or leave a condolence. Please use common sense and follow the suggestions of the CDC and Indiana State Board of Health in regard to COVID-19 when attending services.


X