AUBURN – Donald Francis Small, 78, of 394 Central Ave., Lewiston, died Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice in Auburn after a lingering illness.

Born in Auburn on Oct. 1, 1929, he was the son of Walter and Ruth Getchell Small. He was educated in Auburn schools and attended Edward Little High School.

In 1947, he entered the U.S. Air Force, and was stationed at Yokota Airbase in Tokyo, Japan. He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant on July 17, 1950.

A member of the Teamsters Local 340, he retired after 22 years with Sanborn’s Motor Express.

He was an avid sports fan, loved the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, and was a member of the Summit Springs Country Club. A devout Roman Catholic, he was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish, where he assisted at Masses, funerals, was a sacristan for many years and volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Rose, and they often visited his favorite place together, Yosemite National Park.

Survivors include his loving wife of 43 years, the former Rose Marie Piselli of Lewiston; two sons, Raymond and Ronald Ouellette, both of Westbrook; two daughters, Patricia Ouellette Goughnour and husband, Shaun, of Auburn and Pamela Ouellette of Los Osos, Calif.; a grandson, Major Christopher Ouellette, USAF, and his wife, Major Rachel Ouellette, USAF; a great-grandson, John David (Jack) Ouellette; a nephew, George Small of Auburn; and several other nieces and nephews.