Donald Fayette LaFever

Donald Fayette LaFever, 90, of Front Royal, Virginia passed away on Monday, February 22, 2021 at Shenandoah Senior Living.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 2 PM at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal with Pastor Andy Combs officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mr. LaFever was born on May 12, 1930 in Arlington, Virginia to the late Mortier and Emma Sack LaFever. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean LaFever and son, Greg LaFever.

This is our Pop aka Toppy. If you ever met Pop, you were greeted with the kindest eyes, sparkling with love and mischief and a great big hug. Your name was shouted with three exclamation points behind it, like you were the most important person in the world, no matter how long it had been since he saw you. You always felt his genuine happiness in seeing you. You were told how proud he was of you. You were told stories that made your face hurt from smiling. You may have even had your arms used as puppets in one of his hilarious stories. You learned about what it takes to make a difference in someone’s life, and then he showed you with his actions.

Pop achieved worldly greatness in his life: He ran press planes for Nixon and Agnew. He attended presidential inaugurations, White House Christmas parties and state funerals. He once saved Jimmy Carter’s speech from ruin and drove up sidewalks to get it to his inauguration. He had letters of thanks and congratulations sent to him by hundreds of congressmen, senators and governors for going above and beyond over and over again.

But to us, he was Pop.

He was the kind of father and grandpa movies are written about, the kind of character that stays with you long after you leave the theater or turn the last page of a book. He taught you what it takes to make a difference in someone’s life, and then he showed you. His lessons, his love, and booming, genuine greetings, will stay with us forever.

We lost Pop on this earth this week, but our hearts will never forget the love he gave all of us. Love you, Pop.
Survivors include his four children, Richard LaFever and wife Carla, Donna Robinson, Randy LaFever and wife Ruthanne and Sharon LaFever; eleven grandchildren, Jammie and husband Mike, Renee and husband Chris, Collin, Dillon and wife Hailey, Donald and wife Jennifer, Katie and husband Matthew, Christopher and wife Nicki, Cynthia and husband Chuck, Charlie, Jennifer and husband Jim and Mason; thirteen great grandchildren, Krystin, Alivia, Anthany, Casey, Caden, Ian, Hailey, Tucker, Hayden, Jaxon, Raylynn, Lilly and Lauren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601 or to Warren County Humane Society, 1245Progress Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.

  3 comments for “Donald Fayette LaFever

  1. February 24, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    One of my favorite memories with pop was when we were at the beach I was around 9 or 10 Gigi (Carla) was taking a picture with Ma and top me being me photobombed the picture with both of them.That might be one of the most iconic photos we have in our family love and miss you pop -Livy aka “the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world”from poppy.

  2. Barbara LaFever
    February 27, 2021 at 6:44 pm

    Don was an enthusiastic, open , and loving soul. His presence will be greatly missed.

  3. Kevin LaFever
    February 28, 2021 at 3:21 am

    I can’t tell you how much Uncle Donald meant to me. He was always the one to make everyone feel special whenever we had family gatherings. And the support he gave me after my Dad, his brother, passed, was nothing short of life changing. He helped me see that there was still purpose and love all around. I will never forget him.
    Kevin LaFever

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