Donald Fred Bostian

Bostian, Donald (Don) Fred, born February 19, 1933, in Northumberland, PA, passed away on August 21, 2021 at the age of 88, in his home, at Fletcher Park Inn, Hendersonville, NC.

Don was born to Fred Geyer and Myrtle Marie Mertz, who were devout Lutherans. His love for basketball made him the top point maker for his high school district, and won him a scholarship to play basketball for Penn State University. During his first semester at Penn State, his older sisters, Elizabeth (Liz) and Beatrice (Bebe), who had become Seventh-day Adventists, began sending him literature on the Sabbath. Don wanted to keep the Sabbath, but was at a crossroad, because he had basketball practice and games on Friday nights and on Saturdays, as well as a class on Saturdays. He tested God by going to the Academic Dean’s office to have the class changed. The dean laughed and said that is what everyone would like be at home on Saturdays. Dejected, Don was about to exit the building, when he was called back. The dean was writing a note stating, “Please schedule Donald Bostian’s class irregularly.” Don had his answer. It was difficult to face his coach and father with his decision not to play basketball anymore. At the end of the semester, Don headed to Washington Missionary College, in Takoma Park, MD, in January, 1950, to work his way through college as he studied to become a minister.

Donald married Dorothy (Dot) Walker during his senior year, on December 29, 1955. Don was invited to intern for the Potomac Conference with Elder Stuart at the Richmond, VA, Patterson Ave SDA Church. He graduated from the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary in August 1958. On June 24, 1961, Don was ordained to the ministry at the Potomac Camp Meeting. Don was student of God’s Word, which he loved to share with his churches. He enjoyed reading books and manicuring his yard.

Don served as pastor for the following Adventist hospital and college churches for 39 years:

- Lynchburg / Yellow Branch churches in Virginia (1958 – 1962).

- The Review and Herald Church in Hyattsville, MD, with a medical clinic (1962 - 1964).

- Worthington SDA Church, near Columbus, Ohio (1964 – 1969).

- Atlantic Union college Church (1969 – 1972).

- Kettering Memorial Church, Kettering, Ohio (1972 – 1977).

- Vallejo Drive Church, Glendale, CA (1977 – 1983).

- Forest Lake Church, Apopka, FL (1983 – 1991).

- Walker Memorial Church, Avon Park, FL (1991 – 1996).

Don and Dot retired in August 1996 and moved to New Market, VA, where family lived. In 2010 they moved to Fletcher Park Inn, Hendersonville, NC.

A memorial service for Don was held on October 2, 2021, at the Fletcher Seventh-day Adventist Church, NC. Elder Bill Knott, editor of the Adventist Review, who was baptized by Pastor Don Bostian on May 10, 1969, at the Atlantic Union College Church, spoke at Don’s memorial service.

Preceding Don in death are his parents, Fred Geyer and Myrtle Marie Mertz Bostian, brother, Robert; sister, Beatrice Wetherell.

Surviving Don are his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Walker Bostian, of Hendersonville, NC; sister, Elizabeth Harris, of Chattanooga, TN; brother-in-law, Bill Wetherell, of Hendersonville, NC; sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Charles Ripley; five nieces and seven nephews; twelve great nieces and nephews.