Sean “Reg” Koval Donohoe

Sean “Reg” Koval Donohoe, 69, of Lairdsville, passed away Dec. 10, 2008, after being stricken at home. His physical health had been failing for several months.

Born April 10, 1939, he was named Reginald DeSalles Koval, the son of F. Patrick Donohoe and Mildred Koval. He was raised by his beloved grandparents, Prokip Michael and Anna Koval in East Millsboro, PA.

He and his wife, the former Linda Richardson Luhrs, were married Feb. 3, in Matawan, NJ, celebrating 46 years of marriage.

After dropping out of school to help support his family, he worked in the coal mines of LaBelle, PA. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force at Lake Seneca, NY and sent home on a bus after it was discovered he was only 15 years of age. He worked as a machinist in Cleveland, OH, before obtaining his GED, while serving in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in France as a Military Police, CID officer; he also served with special detail assignments in Germany. After discharge, he continued public service first as a Municipal police officer in Matawan, NJ and later as a New Jersey State Trooper.

Mr. Donohoe worked for a number of years in the boat-building and related businesses, beginning with Henry Luhrs Sea Skiffs in Morgan, NJ. His employers also included R. Leach Manufacturing Company (a marine hardware fabricator), Silverton Marine Corporation in Toms River and Millville, NJ, and Hunter Marine Sailboat Company, Marlboro, NJ.

In order to realize his dream of owning a farm in Pennsylvania, he moved his family to Lairdsville in 1977. He undertook several entrepreneurial ventures: raising registered Polled Hereford Cattle, Lycoming Marine Products, Lairdsville Foundry, Luster Specialist, Inc. His last employer was SCI Shamokin.

In 1988, he ran for Lycoming County Commissioner. He served as president of the Lycoming county Concerned Citizens, a grassroots group that worked to repeal unfair property assessments and as Chairman of the Franklin Township’s ordinance committee.

A member of the Church of the Resurrection, Muncy, he worshipped with his family at Christ United Methodist Church in Hughesville. He was a loyal friend, generous man with an unpretentious sense of humor. He enjoyed classic cars, gadgets, cooking for a crowd, working on his bus, and had a special fondness in his heart for children.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are four brothers and six sisters; six daughters and their husbands: Renee and John Jensen, Tucson, AZ, Elisabeth and Robert Culver, Danville, Anna and Joseph Henderson, Frankford, DE, Rebecca and R. Christopher King, Seattle, WA, Rachel and Joel Anstrom, Petersburg, PA, and Margaret and Jared Hammond, Indiana, PA; and 12 grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be directed to the United Methodist Home for Children, 5120 Simpson Ferry Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.

A memorial service was held Dec. 14, 2008, at McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, Hughesville, with the Rev. G. Edward Corcelius officiating. A gathering will be held next summer in Lairdsville.