COY, Donald Lavaughn

Date of birth: 25 Oct 1903 Edinburg, Johnson County, Indiana

Date of death: 26 Oct 1962 Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana

Source: Seymour Daily Tribune, Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana, October 26, 1962

DONALD L. COY, BUSINESSMAN, LEADER, DIES
      Donald L. Coy, 59, prominent Seymour 
businessman and a leader in many civic 
activities here for 28 years, died this morning 
in Schneck Memorial Hospital, where he 
had been admitted after becoming suddenly 
ill 10 days ago.  His condition had been critical 
for eight days. 
      Funeral services will be conducted at 10 
a.m. Monday from the Voss Chapel with the 
Rev. Charles A. Wells, pastor of the First Metho-
dist Church, in charge.  Burial in Riverview 
Cemetery.
      Friends may call at the Voss Mortuary after 
3 p.m. Saturday.
      Mr. Coy, who resided on South Drive, Sunset 
Parkway, was owner manager of the Seymour 
Finance Company and the Don Coy Ins. Agency, 
102 East Second Street, which he had operated in 
this city for a number of years. 
      A native of the Edinburg vicinity, he was 
born October 25, 1903, the son of the late Robert 
E. and Harriett Dragoo Coy.  He was a graduate 
of the Edinburg High School and in 1926 he was 
graduated form DePauw University, Greencastle, 
where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha 
fraternity.
      On August 15, 1929, he was married at Green-
castle to Zelma Robards, who survives.  After being 
in an insurance agency at Franklin for two years, 
Mr. Coy affiliated with a finance company in 
Indianapolis, being transferred to Seymour in April 
of 1934.  After managing the office for approxi-
mately 10 years, he opened the loan and insurance 
business here above Kamman’s Jewelry Store.  
After operating his business there for several years, 
he moved it to its present location.
      An active member of the Seymour Rotary Club 
since 1935, Mr. Coy was a past president of the 
local club and was district governor of Rotary 
in 1941.  While attending the International 
Rotary Assembly, he was called on to represent 
the U.S.A. and made the final speech of the 
International Assembly before the district gover-
nors from all over the world.  He had served on 
many district committees of the organization and 
his counsel was valued by Rotarians throughout 
the area.  He was a member and past president of 
the Seymour Chamber of Commerce and was a 
member of Seymour Lodge No. 451 B.P.O. Elks.  
He served for many years as secretary-treasurer of 
the Young Men and Young Woman’s Christian 
Association here and was still a member of that 
board.  He was one of those active in first establishing 
youth organizations in Seymour and had served on 
those boards, taking an active part in many details 
necessary for their success.  He was a member 
and past president of the Jackson County Lake and 
Forest Club.
      A member of the First Methodist Church, he had 
been a member of its choir.  He was one of the charter 
members of the former Seymour Chapter of the Society 
for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber 
Shop Quartets Singing in America, Inc. and had 
served as its president and as a member of its out-
standing Quartet.
      In addition to the widow, he is survived by one 
daughter, Mrs. Jane Witte, of Cincinnati, O.; a sister, 
Mrs. Nellie Henderson, of Greensburg; two grand-
children, Mirth Ann and Carl C. Witte, both of 
Cincinnati; a niece, Mrs. Robert Vermilver, of 
Lafayette; and a nephew, Clyde Henderson, of Edin-
burg.  One sister preceded him in death, dying in infancy.

Source: Columbus Evening Republican, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, October 27, 1962

D.L. Coy Dies at Seymour
      Funeral services will be conducted for 
Donald L. Coy, 59, prominent Seymour businessman 
and native of Edinburg.
      Mr. Coy died Friday morning at Schneck 
Memorial Hospital at Seymour where he had 
been admitted after becoming suddenly ill 
10 days ago.
      Rites Monday morning will be at 10 o'clock 
at the Voss chapel in Seymour conducted by the 
Rev. Charles A. Walls, pastor of the First Methodist 
Church.  Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery at 
Seymour.
      Mr. Coy was born Oct. 25, 1903, at Edinburg, 
the son of Robert E. and Harriett Dragoo Coy.  He 
was graduated from Edinburg high school and from 
DePauw university.  He was affiliated with an 
insurance agency in Franklin for two years and 
later was with a finance company at Indianapolis, 
being transferred to Seymour in 1934.  He had 
been active in community affairs at Seymour and 
was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce 
and Rotary Club there.
      He is survived by his wife, the former Miss 
Zelma Robards; a daughter, Mrs. Jane Witte of 
Cincinnati; a sister, Mrs. Nellie Henderson of 
Greensburg; a nephew, Clyde Henderson of 
Edinburg; a niece, Mrs. Robert Vermilya of 
Lafayette, and two grandchildren. 

Submitted by Mark Wirey

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