Donald E. Portwood

88, Brownsburg, passed away on May 2, 2026. Employed in the mid 50’s by Union Carbide Corporation, Don retired from the same company then known as Praxair in the late 90’s. With an eye for how things work, he was called upon to fix, improve, repair, create, etc. There weren’t many mechanical tasks that he couldn’t do including fixing mowers and lawn equipment for his neighbors. More recently, as golf and bowling were less frequent, to maintain his social calendar he went out daily for breakfast to a local gas station with dinner at local restaurants. He fondly referred to “prior to 9 a.m. crowd” at the gas station as “the greeters” whom he enjoyed greatly. He missed those daily visits during his last few days.

A 1955 graduate of Brownsburg High School, Don lived his entire life within a few blocks of his very first Brownsburg address. As a young man Don served in the Air Force National Guard out of Terre Haute, also serving active duty as a technical assistant in the surgical department of a base hospital in France in 1961/62. He watched the town grow up around the home he purchased and enjoyed for the last 60 years. He leaves behind his son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Theresa Portwood. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Don supported many charities and enjoyed reading newsletters and updates he received from them. Memorial contributions in honor of Don may be made to local organization Hounds for Heroes, which provides service dogs to first responders and military veterans suffering with PTSD, at https://www.houndsforheroes.net/donate or mailed to 13524 N CR 275 W, Roachdale, IN, United States, 46172.