Donald F. Cargould

Donald F. Cargould Jr. passed on July 10, 2025. Born to Donald and Ruth (Broughton) Cargould on November 15, 1936, he was the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents. He was followed by his sister and seven cousins who all called the family property home. The Summit County property was purchased in 1852 by his great-grandfather, and it is still home for Don and Eileen. The large rock where the cousins would meet, arriving from various homes on the property, still sits on the property waiting for another generation to meet there. Don attended Steeles Corners Christian Church where his grandparents were founding members. He was baptized at the Trinity Christian Church on North Hill as his church did not have a baptismal. Later, he would help his uncles build a baptismal for the Church, where his oldest son, Barry, was the first baptism.
Don attended Oviatt Street Grade School and Hudson High School, where he was the Class President of the 1955 graduating class. It was at that high school where he met Eileen Hoffman at her locker. He put his arm around her, asked a friend to introduce her, and there were married a year and a half later. It was the beginning of their 68-year adventure, and what an adventure it was.
Don was raised with all his family around, learning carpentry from his grandfather and a multitude of skills from his father and uncles. As a teenager, he would ride his motor bike to mow the Steele's Corners Church lawn for a dollar. After high school, he drove a dump truck during the construction of the Ohio Turnpike, then began his career as a machinist at Fageol Products, Vaughn Machine, Ferry Machine, Terex, and National Machine, retiring after 25 years of service there.
Don never missed an opportunity to provide for his family and was frequently completing side jobs. He mowed Crown Hill Cemetery for a few years and then started a side business of garden rototilling from which he took the CB handle "Sodbuster". He and Eileen rehabbed several houses, built two houses, poured concrete with his crew (mom and the kids), laid asphalt, sealed driveways, built a barn with a playhouse loft, built a go kart and a minibike, and had the kids help with many handyman jobs he completed for so many people in the area. Don and Eileen's helpers were the kids, gender aside, the kids were always helping them with various projects. Eileen had the boys learn domestic skills and the girls learned the same mechanical skills as the boys.
Don was all about his family, from Eileen, to his 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and innumerable cousins. After the blizzards in the later 70s, he would get his big coat on, put chains on the truck, and he and the boys traversed the county checking on the older members of his family--parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to make sure they were safe and warm.
There were many Sunday morning breakfast at Virginia Kendall Park; leaving the kids to explore the ledges while the fire got good and hot for 'pancakes on the rocks'. Fall weekends were spent completing the Metro Parks fall hiking spree. They started the program in 1964 and reluctantly had to give up after more than 50 years but are pleased their children continue the tradition. There were many memorable family vacations, all with their own unique story. The camping trip to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, where everyone had been tromping through the hillside without a care until evening, when we came across a rattlesnake in the road. Then they heard a locust in the fire that sounded like a rattlesnake, then dad got bit by something.... everyone slept in the camper that night. It was always an adventure.
After retirement Don and Eileen began their real journey, covering all 50 states, 7 continents and more than 40 countries. There was a month-long camping trip in the outback of Australia where he somehow managed to convince some Aussies to let him help finish cement. The 7-week trek to the wilderness of Alaska with his sister and brother-in-law all the way to the Arctic Circle and back, the trips to the Antarctic, Russia, China, Japan, and a cruise around the Mediterranean. He loved cruises, having taken 10 cruises down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and more than 30 ocean cruises. Don never knew a stranger, always talking with someone-the next person in line, the waitress, or asking how something worked or sharing a joke. He was quite the talker.
Don served in the Naval Air Reserve of Korean and Vietnam wars as an aviation machinist's mate and left the service in 1962 as a Petty Officer 3rd class ADJ. He was a member of American Legion Post 464 in Judson for over 25 years, where he served as chaplain and sergeant of arms. He spent many Friday nights there with Eileen cooking for the members. When they became less active, he and Eileen would take part in many Stow and Hudson seniors activities and stay closer to home.
Preceded in death by his parents, Donald F. Cargould Sr. and Ruth (Broughton) Cargould, daughters-in-law Lecie Cargould and Barbara Cargould, son-in-law Mark Brady, and cousins Bruce Hickin and Kenneth Cargould. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eileen, sister Shirley Mae (James) Colwell, children Barry (Sherry), Cindy (Steve) Miller, Bryan (Linda), and Pam Brady; six grandchildren, Amanda (Luke) Marzano, Becca (David) Fiser, Julie (Jonathan) Kiehl, Jason Cargould, Matthew Brady and Daniel Brady; three great-granchildren, Zeke, Max and Ruth; special cousins Frank (Lainie) Cargould and Ernie (Kathy) Cargould, aunt Hazel Broughton and her children, numerous family members and many friends he and Eileen met during their travels. He often said he and Eileen had a blessed life, and what a ride it was.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, from 5-7 pm at the Anthony Funeral Home - Falls Chapel 247 Stow Ave in Cuyahoga Falls. A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 11 am, with the family again receiving friends from 10 to 11 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Markillie Cemetery in Hudson. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).