Donald Joseph Brancato

Mr. Donald Joseph Brancato, 79, died Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, at his home after an illness.

Born in Long Beach, Calif., he was a son of the late Joseph Amdear Brancato and Ada Hart Brancato. Mr. Brancato was the owner and operator of DonMar R.V. Sales, a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict, a member of American Legion and member of Wally Byam Caravan Club. He was an avid bicyclist and loved his community. When he was 16 years old, he and a friend raced on their bicycles from Norfolk, Va. to Washington, D.C. and back, and in high school he was the first chair saxophonist.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Lynn Brancato, a son, David Carter Brancato and two grandchildren, Melia Rae Brancato and Edward Joseph Karr.

Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Mary Catherine Franklin Brancato; four daughters, Sharon (Reed) Leonard of Branson, Mo., Elizabeth (Sylvan) Berthe of Seattle, Wash., Catherine B. (David) Karr and Susan B. (John) Vizas both of Frederick, Md.; two sons, Donald J. (Kelly) Brancato Jr. of Pheonix, Ariz., and Charles Andrew (Melanie) Brancato of Turbeville; 16 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Floyd Funeral Home in Olanta.

A graveside service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, Va.