Obituary of Donald Inman DeKalb

Warner Robins, GA-Donald I. DeKalb, 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday October 19, 2018. A Funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday October 23, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Josh Bizzell and Rev. Missy Blumenthal officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday October 22, 2018 from 6:00PM-8:00PM at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will be at Magnolia Park Cemetery. Donald I. DeKalb was born on April 10, 1932 in Brooklyn, Maryland, one of seven children born to Baron E. and Carrie I. DeKalb. His family moved to Bangor, Maine in 1937, where he attended school. He migrated South in 1950 and made Warner Robins his home. He was employed at Robins Air Force Base for thirty-six years, retiring in 1987. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church and a member of the Wesley Sunday School Class. Don married Barbara “Bobbye” DeLoach in 1952 and has two children, a son, Robert “Butch” DeKalb and a daughter, Margie White. He has three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. After the death of his first wife, he married Clara Yvonne Phelps, who has two children, a son, Wayne Phelps, a daughter, Susan Thompson, five grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Don was Initiated in Tyrian Lodge No. 111, Warner Robins, on April 12, 1955. He served as Worshipful Master in 1969. He was a member of thirteen Fraternal Organizations and was very active in the Masonic Organization. He served for nine years as a member of the Child Care Committee at Georgia Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. On August 26, 2002, Grand master Clarence E. Horne appointed Right Worshipful Brother DeKalb as the Grand Secretary of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Georgia, Free and Accepted Masons, a position he held until his retirement on August 31, 2009. He subsequently was employed by the Grand Lodge of Georgia in the office of the Grand Secretary for nearly three years, finally retiring April 30, 2013. In addition to his parents and first wife, he is preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. Survivors include his wife Yvonne DeKalb, son Butch (Pat) DeKalb, daughter Margie (Jeff) White, step son Wayne Phelps, step daughter Susan (John) Thompson, grandchildren Kimberly (Rick) Morrow, Kip (Cheryl) DeKalb, Tracey (Brad) Wright, Robert Phelps, Richard Phelps, Bethany Phelps, Charles Thompson, and Kristen Thompson (Dylan) Harwood, ten great grandchildren and brother, George DeKalb. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to their favorite charity. Heritage Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please go to www.heritagemfh.com to sign the online guestbook.