Donnie Eric Lastinger

Don Lastinger, loving husband, creator, and master storyteller, passed away at the age of 78 on May 21, 2022.  An adventurer of all things big and small, real and imaginary, he experienced the most joy camping with his wife Fran, and getting into all kinds of trouble with his brothers and sisters.

Born and raised in Moultrie, Georgia, Don started his career in the shoe business while attending high school.  That’s what led to meeting Fran in Butlers Shoe store in downtown Moultrie.  After initially turning him down for a date, they finally went to dinner.  Dozens, if not hundreds of tellings of this story by Don never wavered in reporting that Fran ordered a hamburger at that dinner, so we can assume that part is true.  Don and Fran were wed on April 2, 1967 and celebrated 50 years with a celebration party in 2017.  Don would often jokingly say it was Fran’s wedding anniversary, but we all suspect that it was the most important date on his calendar, too.

After marrying, Don and Fran grew their family with the births of Holly and Derrick.  Don’s career took them across Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey and Illinois.  Outside of his day job, he enjoyed working with his hands, especially when it came to building things.  This skill led to buying and remodeling a house (or two) in every place they lived.  Though they moved often, they established friendships that have spanned decades.

Even after having kids, the adventures did not slow down.  Since Don and Fran lived far away from family at times, summers were particularly important to reconnect.  Don and his family would canvass the eastern United States – in the early days it was in conversion vans with carpeted walls.  Don and Fran would often bring along nieces and nephews, and occasionally the neighbor kids, too.  

Particularly memorable were the times when Don managed stores in Manhattan, New York, where his kids would tag along on Saturdays.  Holly and Derrick (around 12 and 10 years old at the time) remember it as exploring the Big Apple all on their own, even though Dad sneaked behind them to watch as they bought him a cup of coffee three doors down at Chock full o’ Nuts.

After returning to Cumming, Georgia in 1987, he spent time with his siblings Dewey, Alda, Huey, and Jan on camping trips or by helping each other with projects at their respective houses.  Camping trips usually had some sort of creation or scavenger hunt involved.  Whether it was collecting burls or pinecones of just-the-right-shape to make ornaments, or sheer determination to spot an elusive bird, the stories were later spun by the campfire and laughter was abundant.  House projects were usually the type that most people would hire out, but the Lastingers decided that buying a power tool and doing it themselves was always a better alternative.  

Even as Don began fighting multiple rounds of cancer in the last few years, he took to drawing, painting, and gardening as creative outlets.  He painted an eye on a rock so that Fran would always know he’s watching over her.  He also painted a rock with the words “Turn me over” on one side and on the other, “You did what a rock told you to do.  Do you feel stupid?”  He’s given away drawings and paintings of birds and flowers which have become precious to his family and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Troy and Evelyn of Moultrie, GA, sister-in-law Gayle (Dewey) of Moultrie, GA, and Father-in-law Frank Ray of Dothan, AL.  He is survived by his wife Fran Ray Lastinger, daughter Holly Lastinger Ingram (Todd) of Dublin, Ga , son Derrick Lastinger (Ed Peal) of Atlanta, GA, siblings Dewey Lastinger of Moultrie, Ga, Alda Townsend of Gainesville, GA (Roy), Huey Lastinger (Rebeca) of Cumming, Ga, Jan Godfrey (Mike) of Cumming, GA, grandchildren Ansley and Aiden Ingram of Dublin, GA, sister-in-law Linda Ray King (Jimmy) of Dothan, AL,  mother-in-law Grace Ray of Dothan, AL, and many nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation, https://atlantacancercarefoundation.org/ 

Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA is in charge of arrangements