Donald M. Covert

Donald M. Covert, 81, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday Feb. 17 at Physicians Regional Medical Center- Pine Ridge in Naples, Florida.
Don was born May 10, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio to Maurice D. and Nellie (Swearington) Covert.

On April 19, 1958 in Columbus, Ohio he married Margaret “Peg” Nesser, who survives along with two daughters: Michelyn Jones of Goshen, IN and Patricia “Tricia” (John) Thurmond of Chicago, IL, a son: Paul D. (Susan) Covert of Edwardsburg, MI; 5 grandchildren; 6 Great-grandchildren; a sister Marcelene Kinman of Los Gatos, CA., and a brother Mark (Joan) Covert of Fenton, MI.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Mary Ann Wilber.

Don attended Mentor Village School and Mentor High School, graduating in 1949, where he played football and basketball. He went on to Ohio State University, graduating in 1953 with a degree in Business Administration. While at OSU he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity and played varsity lacrosse.
He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 as a supply sergeant for Headquarters Company of the 29th Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia.
He then returned to Ohio State University in the School of Engineering from 1955 to 1958. He moved to Dayton, Ohio and was a member of the Dayton JC’s and the Management Society of Dayton and mentored Junior Achievement. He moved to Erie, PA in 1963 and was president of the Erie Chapter of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers. He moved to Elkhart in 1966 and served on the Red Cross Board, coached 5th and 6th graders at St. Thomas School and tutored for Sister Virginia’s Adult Education School. With Gordon Owens he founded C.O. Tools, Inc. in 1971 and retired from active work in 1993.
Since retirement he has contributed to Habitat for Humanity in Collier County, Florida.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Friday Feb. 22 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart, where services will be held at 11:30 am Saturday with Fr. Bill Sullivan officiating. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorials for Don may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Florida. Visit www.habitatcollier.com to make a donation.