Donald L. Stewart

DONALD L. STEWART

I’ve lived a life that’s full

I’ve traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Donald L. Stewart turned off the ignition and set the parking brake on August 17, 2026, ending a run of 92 years and more than 4 million miles.

Don was a devoted husband and father. He met the love of his life, Shirley (Omaits) Stewart in 1953. They married in 1955, enjoying 71 years together. They had three children – Judy, Douglas and David.

Don was a farmer, trucker, heavy equipment operator and business executive throughout his storied life. From humble beginnings, he literally worked his way to being a leader in the trucking industry. Then at age 62, he decided to return to his original loves – trucking and farming – to write a final 30-year chapter of his life.

Don was born on March 1, 1934 on a farm in Turkey Point, Ohio. His family resided in Tiltonsville, Ohio. Ever the entrepreneur, Don built a wagon out of orange crates at age 10 to deliver grocery store circulars. At 14, he convinced his father to buy a Model A pick-up so he could deliver coal scraps from nearby mines to homes around town. Don graduated from Warren Consolidated High School and attended Kent State University. But he soon decided that he preferred the workplace and the open road to the classroom.

Early in his career, Don worked as a carpenter’s apprentice, a concrete block delivery driver, bus driver and a cement mixer driver. He secured a position with Standard Oil, making a nightly run from Tiltonsville to Cleveland. He managed the local Sohio filling station for several years, then came a new opportunity with Matlack Inc., the Pipeline On Wheels. He started as a driver/terminal manager, then was persuaded to move to Columbus as operations manager and eventually Vice President. He oversaw more than 2,000 employees and generated millions in revenue, and was very proud that his region was consistently the most profitable in the company.

When not dedicating 60-plus hours a week to Matlack, Don was always busy with his other passions. He purchased farmland on Warren Ridge and built a barn and machine shed to raise horses, donkeys, sheep and a goat. He created D.L. Stewart & Sons excavating and had a fleet of heavy equipment for various projects. He resurrected the hog operation at Donnibrook Farm, raising a thousand hogs at a time, three times a year. He also delivered whey to hog farms throughout Ohio while doing what he loved most – driving a truck.

Don was a joiner. Among the organizations he was part of through the years were the Tiltonsville Lions Club, the Jefferson County Fair Board, Golden Horseshoe 4-H Club, the Kentucky Colonels and Tennessee Squires, the Ohio Trucking Association, the American Antique Truck Society, where he was inducted in the National Hall of Fame, and the Buckeye Vintage Haulers. His proudest possessions were his fleet of vintage semi trucks.

Don was a man of exceptional work ethic and enjoyed many friendships with those who had met through his life’s journey. He was also active in his garage, constantly fixing things – sometimes successfully and sometimes not. He also was confident in his convictions. “I may not always be right, but I am never wrong” was one of his favorite statements.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Leeman (Bud) Stewart and Dora (Plants) Stewart, sister Norma (Stewart) Dennis, daughter Judy (Stewart) Messenburg and grandson DJ Stewart. He is survived by his wife Shirley, Douglas, David and Lisa (Deany) Stewart and grandchildren Carlee (Stewart) Reed, Nicholas Stewart and Katherine Stewart.

No services are scheduled. A private family celebration of life will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Licking County Aging Partners https://www.lcap.org/donations or BrightFocus Foundation https://donate.brightfocus.org/bff/donate.

Hoskinson Funeral & Cremation Service in Kirkersville is honored to care for Don and his family.