Donald L. Major of Minoa passed away peacefully at home early Monday morning with his children by his side.  Donald was born July 6th, 1928, the youngest child of Frederick and Emma Major of Syracuse. 
As a youth, Donald excelled in baseball, playing with the Syracuse All-Stars.  He was an outstanding hitter, and was recruited by the St. Louis Cardinals at the tender age of 16. 
After attending Central High School, Don followed his brother Fred’s path by joining the military, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, proudly serving in the Korean War.  Later Don was employed by General Electric Heavy Military as a wireman. He built cabinets for the radar towers and worked with GE for 35 years.
Once at home in Syracuse, he met and married Carol Mae Ransom moving to Minoa, to raise their family.  
As a child, when he wasn’t playing baseball, Don enjoyed spending time on or near water.  Many family trips would be up north to a cabin on Jenny Island on Black Lake.  There, he and his father and brothers would go duck hunting and fishing, swimming and taking rides in the “Mercury.”   As an adult Don would bring his family up to Lake Ontario two weeks every summer to stay in cabin at Selkirk Shores State Park.
Don loved the outdoors, and enjoyed camping with his family, particularly on Lake Ontario, with powerful surf, dazzling beach, and glorious sunsets. 
His hobbies included bowling, “playing the ponies,” and especially working in wood.  He crafted many birdhouses, bookcases, lamps, hanging mirrors, and candleholders, stools and chairs.  He even built his own workshop off the garage, a separate shed, refinishing the family basement into a family room-bar, and the attic into two gorgeous bedrooms.
Don was known as Poppy to his grandkids Gregory, Allison, Jamie, Michael and Anthony.   
Don was predeceased by his wife Carol (Ransom) Major on February 20th of this year.   He is also predeceased by his siblings Harold Major, Audrey Haines, Jane Radford and Frederick Major.
Surviving are his children Pamela (Vince) Massara, Donald (Deb) Major, Sandra Major and Christine (Anthony) Salvati. Also surviving are multiple loving nieces and nephews. 
Services will be held on Friday evening at R.H. Schepp and Son, Minoa Chapel, 6530 Schepps’s Corners Road, Minoa, NY.  Calling hours will be from 5:00-7:00 pm with memorial service immediately following at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CNY SPCA.

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