Obituary

Louis Donald “Don” “Butch” Dreyer passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Heritage Valley Health System, Beaver Campus.  He was 78 years old.  Don was the son of Louis J. and Daisy B. Dreyer. He was a resident of Chippewa Township.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Louella Stemple.

He is survived by three nieces Renee Verville, Debbie Meszaros, and Dena Stemple and their families and an extended family of cousins and their families.  He was very lucky to have friends Pam Campbell, Kirk Rekasie, and Tom Decker who were especially helpful.

He felt lucky to have decades-long friends from the places he lived and worked.

Don was a graduate of Freedom Area High School and West Virginia University.  He also attended Temple University—Ambler campus and earned graduate credits at the Northern Virginia campus of the University of Virginia.  In addition to his degree, he completed the ROTC program at WVU and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.  His military service included a tour of duty in Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Star for his service.  Prior to that he completed US Army Jungle School training in Panama.

He was a years-long volunteer with the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program in Beaver County.  He was a life member of the West Virginia University Alumni Association, Beaver County Chapter 862 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and the 2/1 Armored Cavalry Alumni Association. And, always a devoted Mountaineer fan.

He had a diverse working career that included Armco Steel, the US Army, the West Virginia Department of Highways, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the US Department of Agriculture.  He retired from the Federal Government in 2002.  That career diversity included living in Kentucky, Washington state, West Virginia, the Philadelphia area, and northern Virginia.  It gave the opportunity to work with some interesting, dedicated and committed professional people and to see wonderful places and sites.

He was also gladdened by the opportunity to have attended some once in a lifetime events such as being on the White House grounds for an Official State Visit by a foreign head of state, to see the removal and restored replacement of the Statue of Freedom on the United States Capitol Dome, to attend with his Dad the Desert Storm Parade and Flyover, and to see the processional for the (briefly) Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War and to pay respects to that soldier while he lay In State in the US Capitol Rotunda.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, June 4^th, from 11AM until time of prayer service at 1PM in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., Chippewa Twp., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls.

Interment with full military honors will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park.

His family wishes to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to his caregivers, Roberta, Debbie, Kristy, Cathy, Roni, Heidi, Donna and Hayle.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 862, 110 Hamilton Court, Baden, PA 15005.