Star-Ledger, The (Newark, NJ) - August 19, 2009
Deceased Name: Donald H. Aaroe
Builder, Woodbridge Board of Ed retiree, WWII vet
Donald H. Aaroe died Saturday, Aug. 15, in the home he built with his own hands.

He was born July 15, 1918, in Perth Amboy and moved to Woodbridge as a small child. He was the son of the late Andrew P. Aaroe and his wife, Edna Henry. An honor student, Don graduated from Woodbridge High School in 1936. He attended Rutgers University and was a perpetual student for the rest of his life.

A veteran of World War II, he volunteered to join the U.S. Navy on Dec. 8, 1941, and was called to active duty on Jan. 29, 1942. He was honorably discharged as a carpenter's mate first class in November, 1945. Most of his duty was in the South Pacific and Australia, serving aboard two ships, the U.S.S. Altamaha and the U.S.S. Orion.

He proudly carried his union card from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 65 and at one time was its longest dues-paying member. His early jobs were on the elevation of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Woodbridge proper and the building of the Edison Bridge. While working for his father, a general construction contractor, Don helped build over 50 custom homes in this locality, as well as churches and industrial properties. In 1963, he was hired as supervisor of new construction by the Woodbridge Board of Education and retired in 1983 as supervisor of building and grounds.

He had served his community as the assistant troop leader of Boy Scout Troop 33, was one of the founders of Little League in Woodbridge and was appointed to the Woodbridge Juvenile Conference Committee when it was founded. He enjoyed playing softball, golf, tennis and skiing. He was an honorary founder of the Springwood Swim Club in Colonia, serving for 20 years as its vice president and its project chairman as the club was improved and enlarged through the years.

A 50-year plus member of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge, he was elected and ordained as a ruling elder and served several terms. During the preparations for the 300th anniversary of the church, he served as committee co-chairman for the restoration and renovations, which were sorely needed at that time. Even in his latest years, he served as an active member of the Heritage Committee and faithfully attended the adult Sunday School class and joined in its discussions. He especially enjoyed the after-service coffee hour, when he could meet and talk with his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Emma Earley. They were married on Navy Day, Oct. 27, 1945.

He is also survived by his daughter, Amy, and her husband, David Swanson, of Cranford; his son, Chris and his wife, Jeanne, of Greensboro, N.C.; two granddaughters, Kristen Beck of Cranford and Mary Aaroe of Greensboro, N.C.; his great-grandson, Kristopher Beck of Cranford; his sister, Jean Wadsworth of Roanoke, Va.; his brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Helen Earley of Eastport, Maine, and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Lorch of Pukekohe, New Zealand. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families who were loved by their "Uncle Don."

A funeral service will take place on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. Friends and relatives are invited to call on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Costello-Greiner Funeral Home (www.costello-greiner.com), 44 Green St. at Barron Avenue, Woodbridge.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 600 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, N.J. 07095.