Donald Edgar Poole, beloved husband of Linda Smith Poole, passed away on July 12, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born November 9, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio.
He and Linda were married on July 7, 1972, in the living room of their home in Mentor, Ohio. He leaves behind his wife, Linda (nee Smith); brother, Bill Poole of Willoughby, Ohio; brother-in-law, Larry Smith and sister- in-law, Beth Smith of Concord, Ohio; two nieces, three nephews, four great-nieces, four great-nephews, one great-great-niece, and many good friends. His parents were William Edgar Poole and Willieta Danforth Poole.
Don grew up in Willoughby, Ohio and graduated from Willoughby Union High School in 1957. He was a proud veteran, having served in the Air Force from 1962-1966, as a missile mechanic in Kansas and New Mexico. Don had a life-long love of competition racing, including stock cars, drag racing, motocross, motorcycle road racing and autocross. He raced nationally and won almost exclusively. His love of competition also led him to creating and competing in road rallies. He was president of the North East Ohio Sports Car Club and a National Tech Inspector for the NEO Region of the Sports Car Club of America. Don was an ASE Certified Master Mechanic. He designed, engineered and built all of his racers and hot rod cars including all of the painting, wiring, upholstering and metal work for each one. Up until last month, he worked on his latest hot rod project car.
Don was an exceptional mechanic, engine builder, engineer and gifted artist (especially painting aircraft nose art on sweatshirts). His creative talents were limitless. There was nothing he could not build, create or repair. His gift of knowledge and wanting to share what he knew led him to being the best teacher in the whole world. Don and his gentle and kind demeanor will be missed by everyone who knew him. He was everyone’s friend.
A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, July 31, 2017, at Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor, Ohio, where family will receive friends from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and military honors will be presented at 6 p.m.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
To leave condolences for the family, order flowers or light a memorial candle, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Lennon-McCartney

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