Donald Patrick Aaron

Donald Patrick Aaron, 68, of Erie, PA passed away on Monday afternoon, April 17, 2023 after a short stay at Sarah Reed Senior Living under Hospice care. Don was born on March 17, 1955, as the doctor announced, “Here’s a Patrick for St. Patrick’s Day!”

Don was born in Oil City, PA, the son of the late Edward and Blanche (Denslinger) Aaron.

He grew up on the family farm near Venus, PA, the fifth of eight children. During childhood he spent many hours outdoors, and living on a farm he developed the ability to work on equipment at an early age. As a teenager, he was in great demand by the neighboring farmers to help with baling hay.

In his younger years Don enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting and camping with friends. He had a sense of adventure and liked to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle that he personally customized. He enjoyed telling people that the first time he rode in an airplane he jumped out of it. He liked to reminisce about some of the antics in which he and his childhood friend, Andy Nuhfer, participated.

Don was a 1973 graduate of Cranberry Area High School and began his career at Joy Manufacturing Company in Franklin, PA. He moved to Erie to work at Kaiser Aluminum and he retired from Accuride as a maintenance machinist in 2019.
He enjoyed his Ford trucks and all things John Deere from his garden tractor to his gator. He relied on his nephew, Edward, to keep him up to date with the latest technology and devices. He took pleasure in all the family gatherings.

Don’s advice to family in his last few months was not to put off enjoyment or anything you want to do in life. Unfortunately, his health did not allow him to participate in the activities he planned for retirement. He accepted with strength and grace the very recent diagnosis of an aggressive, unbeatable cancer.

He is survived by three brothers, Roger Aaron and his wife Susan of Franklin; Randall Aaron and his wife Donna of Rockland; and Timothy and his wife Marie of East Amherst, NY; and three sisters, Patricia Jensen and her husband Jack of Seattle, WA; Barbara Rankin and her husband, Paul of Erie, and MaryBeth Crawford of Nashville, TN. He is also survived by 14 nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Dennis Aaron, and a brother-in-law, Norman Crawford.

At his request, there will be no visitation or public memorial service.

Arrangements are entrusted to Burton Quinn Scott Cremation and Funeral Services, Wintergreen, 2532 Norcross Road, Erie, PA.

If you wish to make a donation in his honor, please consider the Erie City Mission, P. O. Box 407, Erie, PA 16512 or any organization that helps homeless. Don always was concerned about the homeless people, as he said something had to have happened for them to be in that position.