Donald C. Stratton Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Donald “Don” Craig Stratton, Jr., beloved father and grandfather, was born March 14, 1932 in Lewistown, PA, the son of Donald Craig Stratton, Sr. and Ruth Davis Stratton. He is survived by his wife Shirley Shuey Statton, his children David Craig Stratton and Sandra Stratton Swint, and three Grandchildren: Jacob, Zachariah, and Matthew Swint. Don served proudly in the U.S. Navy Band as a trombonist from 1949 to 1971. He is a veteran of the Korean War, having served on the U.S.S. Princeton aircraft carrier in the U.S. Pacific fleet in support of combat operations. After the war, his military service included posts in Honolulu, Hawaii, San Diego, CA, and then Washington, D.C., where he became principal trombonist for the U.S. Navy Band. After his military service, where he achieved the rank of Master Chief, he taught for 17 years in the Fairfax County, Virginia school system as a music teacher, in addition to teaching bass clinics, and private lessons. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Music Education from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He was the Band Director of Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia from 1975 to 1979. Don also played in Washington-area bands for many years as musical accompanist for entertainment legends. A large part of his legacy is the many students he inspired and mentored along the way. Because he believed that “teaching the student is more important than teaching the music,” Don Stratton touched the lives of thousands through his performing and teaching. A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Methodist Church in Lemoyne, PA on Aug. 13. Visitation is at 10:00 am, and the service is at 11:00 am. Mr. Stratton will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Penn State University to benefit the Stratton Global Health Fund at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033. Livestream: https://youtu.be/4xKUxg-Trec

Donald C. Stratton Jr.

March 14, 1932 - July 26, 2022