Donald Britts
Donald Gray Britts, 85, of Salem, Va. and formerly of Radford, Va., passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
He was born on May 21, 1938, the third child of the late Frank Emmett and Margaret White Britts and baby brother to the late Frank Edward Britts and the late Mary Virginia Santolla. By 1940, the family had moved from Radford to Giles County so his father could work at the new Celanese plant. By age 9, Don was an orphan and lived for a short period in Beckley, W.Va., with his uncle, Claude Britts. He then moved to Pearisburg, Va., where he lived with his sister and her young family. He was a Pearisburg High School red devil where he was an outstanding basketball player and drummer in the Giles County High School band. He later became an outstanding Marine. After the marines he attended McLain's Business College in Bluefield, W.Va.
Don and his wife, Mary Ellen Lamb who survives him, met when they were teenagers and went on to be married for 61 years. They had two children, Brian Alan Britts (Missie) of Salem, Va., and Lisa McDaniel, who is deceased.
Others who have passed prior to Don include a nephew, Robert Lynn Santolla; and special cousin, Angelo Santolla.
Surviving family members include a granddaughter, Bree Smith; grandson, Seth McDaniel; great-granddaughters, Alanah Gray Poole and Calesha Mans; great-grandson, Nazareth Mans; son-in-law, Wayne McDaniel; former son-in-law, Kevin Craft; former daughter-in-law, Debbie Powell; nephews, Ralph Santolla (Teresa), W.T. Santolla, Jr., and Jim Britts (Regina); and nieces, Janet Britts and Karen Santolla.
Don loved people and talked to anyone about anything. After retiring from auto sales, he became an employee of John M. Oakey & Son – a job he regarded as a calling. He was also a deacon in The Baptist Church.
Family members and friends are invited to celebrate Don’s life on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel in Salem, Va. The period of visitation will begin at 2 p.m. and the memorial service at 3 p.m. All are encouraged to honor Don by wearing brightly colored Hawaiian attire.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
