Donald Weller Hoard

Please click here to view the live stream of the funeral service for Donald W. Hoard.
The live stream will begin at 3:00pm on Sunday, September 18th.

Donald W. Hoard, “Donnie,” 66, born in Uniontown, PA to his loving parents, Kathleen (Schiffbauer) and Junior Earl Hoard. 

Donnie was raised in Point Marion, PA and Morgantown, WV, attended Point Marion Elementary and Junior High and graduated from Albert Gallatin Senior High School in 1974.  He attended Penn State Fayette Campus and eventually earned his associates degree at Prince Georges Community College, Largo, MD.

While at Albert Gallatin, he was an enthusiastic member of a Barber Shop Quartet, the Albert Gallatin band and choir.  Donnie loved music in all forms.  In his young adult life, he made his music dreams come true as a member of local rock bands and eventually as a member of a country rock group, The Sweetwater Band, that performed in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.  His role was the lead singer, acoustical guitarist and bass guitarist.

Music wasn’t Donnie’s only passion.  He loved Scouting, hunting and being in nature.  He rose through the ranks of the Boys Scouts eventually earning the Order of the Arrow and Eagle Scout awards.  He continued Scouting in his adult life with his son, Zachary, serving as Cub Master, Den Master, Assistant Scout Master, Committee member and chairperson and Merit Badge Advisor.  Seeing Zachary earn his Eagle Scout award was the ultimate.  

Donnie’s love of music and scouting was rivaled only by his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Donnie worked for his Pennsylvania township and county when he finally got his dream job as a UMWA coal miner.  Sadly, his mine had layoffs and he relocated to the Greenbelt, MD area where he went to work for Providence Hospital in Washington, DC, as a Medical Records Specialist.  He worked there from 1985 until it’s closure in 2019.  

Donnie’s greatest joy was the birth of his son, Zachary.  He was a most attentive, nurturing, loving father.   He was a devoted brother to his sister, Kathy (Hoard) Smith, a wonderful uncle to Stephen Rizzo, Justin Miller and AJ Rizzo.  He never missed an opportunity to tell people about his brother-in-law the firefighter, Jimmy Smith and loved holiday dinners with his niece, Jo Sabara.   Donnie cherished the extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins of the Schiffbauer and Hoard families.  When Donnie moved to Maryland, he was welcomed with open arms into the Smith family he and loved them all. 

He will be terribly missed. 

Rest in Peace, dear Donnie.

In lieu of flowers, please send Zachary a note with great memory that you have with Donnie. Please send notes to 6408 Gallery St. Bowie, MD 20720.