Bryon Donald Grubb

Byron Donald Grubb

Byron Donald Grubb, 88, of Mountain Home, passed away on Thursday August 6, 2009 at his home.

A Graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday August 13, 2009, at Mountain View Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Byron, known as Don to everyone, was the oldest of eight children born to Oral and Jettie(Lake) Grubb on March 31, 1921, in Fairmont, West Virginia. Don was raised and educated in Fairmont and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940. While stationed at Pocatello Army Airfield in 1942, he met Marjorie Fenstermaker, a civilian employee at the base. After a courtship, they married in August of 1943 in American Falls. Don was deployed to Europe shortly thereafter. Don's early military service varied from hauling fuel for Patton in Europe to atomic bomb tests in the Pacific. After World War II, he returned to civilian life and tried his hand at farming for a year before re-enlisting in the newly formed U.S. Air Force in 1946, and after stops in Texas, Florida and Alaska he was assigned in 1955 to Mountain Home AFB. Don was happy to come back to Idaho so his family could be closer to Marj's family in the eastern part of the state. After 12 years at Mountain Home AFB and 27 years in the military, he proudly retired in 1967 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

Don enjoyed his travels around the world but loved the Mountain Home area most because of the outdoor recreation he enjoyed with his many Air Force buddies.

In 1973, Don began a new venture at the encouragement of his wife when he opened Don's auto Parts. Don, Marj, their four children and four grandchildren have all worked at the store over the years. Don retired from the auto parts business in 1993 and after 36 years the store is still in the family today as CarQuest Auto Parts of Mountain Home.

Don is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 66 years, his daughter Sheila McDonald (Monty) of Mountain Home, three sons Sterling Grubb of Mountain Home, Sidney Grubb (Betty Black) of Boise, and Mark Grubb (Patty Hawley) of Mountain Home, his two sisters Jeanette James of Virginia and Virginia Dare Knight of Ohio, his ten Grandchildren and three Great-Grandchildren... All of whom will miss him very much.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and three sisters.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don's memory to the American Diabetes Association, 223 N. 6th Street, Bois, Id. 83702.