Don Souders

  Donald Terry Souders, age 94, of Hamden, passed away Friday, May 1, 2026, at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He was born January 24, 1932 in Hamden, Ohio, son of the late Terry Paul Souders and Vera Merle Buskirk Souders. Don was a 1949 graduate of Wellston High School where he played football for the Golden Rockets, and at half-time would run into the locker room, change into his band uniform and march with the marching band. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served his country during the Korean War. Don, along with his wife, Lois, was the owner and operator of Souders Hardware in Hamden for 60 years. Don remained very active throughout his life. He enjoyed fishing, boating, water skiing, ice skating, singing, and rooting for The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Reds. Over the years, Don and Lois loved to travel and together they had the pleasure of traveling to five different world continents. They were also fabulous dancers and cleared the dance floor many times over the years for others’ enjoyment. Don was energetic, passionate, full of life, and always wanted others to have fun. He was a faithful member of the Hamden United Methodist Church, a 32nd Degree Mason, and former member of the Wellston Rotary Club for many years. Don participated in the very first Wellston Rotary Minstrel Show when he was a senior in high school and will be fondly remembered for his many years of entertaining the community as an endman and soloist in the minstrel shows for over 60 years. Everyone that knew Don knows that his family was the main focus in his life. He had such deep admiration and devotion for his wife, daughter, and four granddaughters and was always proud to share a story about them to others. Don is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and John Mitchell; granddaughters, Nicole Dixon Waldron (Noah), Kristin Dixon Chamberlain, Bethany Ellen Dixon Wolfe (Aaron) and Lauren Mitchell; and great-grandsons, Nicholas Waldron, Nathaniel Waldron, Bodie Chamberlain, Wyatt Wolfe, and Ocean Ellen Jewell Wolfe. Besides his parents, Don was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Lois Ellen Hughes Souders in 2021. Calling hours will be Tuesday, May 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston. Funeral service will be Wednesday, May 6, at 1 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home with Pastor Roger Hauck officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow in the Hamden Cemetery. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com.