Donald L. Stearns

STOW - Donald L. Stearns, 97, passed away on February 15, 2026

Born in Townville, PA, on January 4, 1929, the son of Merton E. Stearns and Florence E. Jennings-Stearns. It is said that there was four feet of snow on the ground that week.

Don received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1951. His career at General Electric Company, GTE Sylvania, and Transformer Engineering Company in Cleveland, Ohio, centered around the application, sales, and marketing of electrical distribution products. He specialized in dry type transformer.

He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for twelve years, achieving the rank of first class electronics technician. He was very active in Lions Club International, for twenty-nine years, serving many offices at both the local and district level in Fort Wayne, Indiana and in Hudson, Ohio.

Don was very proud of his heritage in-that he was a direct descendent of Isaac and Mary Stearns, who along with three of their eight children, came from England as part of the Puritan movement. They were on the flag ship Arabella, which was part of the Winthrop Fleet land in June of 1630.

Isaac and family were among the first settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was also on the ship Arabella. He and other leaders moved across the bay and set up the first capital of the colony, which later became known as Boston. On his mother's side of the family, all of the ancestors came from Ireland during the 1800s.

He had an excellent marriage with Lou Ann Stearns for 60 years, she is now deceased. They traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, and the United States, including Hawaii.

Don was a devoted Christian and a member of the Hudson United Methodist Church for over forty-five years.

In his mid-90s, he was still healthy and of sound mind. He and his best friend, Judy Chojnacki, (who is now deceased), were very active in the senior organizations, concerts, and traveling.

Don was the second of five siblings, Dr. Merton Stearns (Manetha), Ellsworth James, Shirley Boylan (Ralph), and Joan Schutzbach (John). All deceased.

He is survived by his two children, Jennifer Treichel and Jeffrey Stearns, and his grandchildren, Dylan Reese Bordonaro, Alex Saba Ladewig, and Isabelle Lou Ann Stearns.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Hudson United Methodist Church, 2670 Hudson Aurora Road, Hudson, 44236, at 3 PM, on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Friends and family may call after the service.