Donald John Binkley

Donald (John) Binkley, age 81 of Shawnee Township, passed on to his Lord and Savior on Saturday July 26, 2025 at St. Rita’s Hospital after complications from heart disease. Don was born in March of 1944 in Lima, Ohio to the late Madge Marie (Forney) Binkley and Donald Arthur Binkley. He was a 1962 graduate of Shawnee High School and a 1967 graduate of THE Ohio State University. Don had a successful career of forty-six years in the human resources / labor relations profession as a management representative. He retired in 2013 from Clemans Nelson and Associates - a management consulting firm based in Dublin and Lima - with over twenty-eight years of service to his clients. Don is survived by his loving wife Ona (Dodds) Binkley and three children – Stephen (Kristi) Binkley of Mansfield, Texas, Matthew Binkley of Sarasota, Florida, and Rebecca (Matthew) Trefz of Lewis Center, Ohio. Also surviving are five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter that he loved dearly: Connor (Kaitlyn) Binkley, Griffin Binkley, Chase Binkley, Madison Binkley, Keegan Trefz, and Olivia Binkley. His greatest wish was that his grandchildren become well-educated, happy, and successful. Don is also survived by his aunt, Virginia Forney, and an extended family of Forney cousins. Don was a long-time member of the Shawnee Township Cemetery Board and a member of the Shawnee United Methodist Church where he served as an usher-greeter, communion steward, and member of the finance committee. He was also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast, riding to the Dairy Queen at Indian Lake in his favorite Harley jacket every 4th of July to order a root beer float. In his words, “What could be more American than that?” Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, August 1st at Shawnee United Methodist Church. The family will also receive visitors at 10:00 AM before the service which will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 2nd, at the Shawnee United Methodist Church, officiated by Pastor Lori Wright. Interment will be at the Shawnee Township Cemetery, following the service. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Eley Funeral Home in Wapakoneta. Condolences may be expressed at www.eleyfuneralhomeandcrematory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shawnee United Methodist Church.