Paul V. Donley, 89, of Sharon, died Oct. 6, 2014, at Azura Care Center in Beloit.
He was born May 9, 1925, in Kempton, Ill. to Floyd and Arretus (Wilson) Donley. He married Harriet A. O’Banion June 4, 1949, in Aurora, Ill. She preceded him in death Oct. 19, 2006.
He served with the Company C-504th Parachute Infantry in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe from August 1944 to March 1946. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Europe-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Paratrooper Badge, Expert Rifleman Badge, three Overseas Service Bars and Victory Medal. He farmed in the Sharon area most of his life and was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church and the American Legion in Sharon.
He is survived by his children Paul Jr. (Elaine) Donley and Stanley (Linda) Donley, both of rural Capron, Ill., Martha Kunz, of Rockford, Ill.; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; three brothers Glen Donley, of Byron, Minn., Trent Donley, of Winter Park, Fla., and Carl Donley, of Washington; two sisters Lois Olden, of Batavia, Ill., and Cherilyn Harvey, of Conroe, Texas; one half brother Douglas Donley, of Oregon; one half sister Mary Louise Sleza,k of Clarendon Hills, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents; and three brothers, Keith, Francis and Roger Donley.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Sharon. Burial will follow at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Harvard, Ill. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Toynton Sharon Funeral Home.
