Donald H. Stratton

Donald H. Stratton, age 68, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2016 in Lakeland. Born February 14, 1948 in Dayton, OH, he was the son of the late Richard L. and Margaret S. Stratton. Mr. Stratton was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War. Don was the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Sports Association or I.S.A. for many years. He served as an Area Director, State of Florida Director, and National Director for I.S.A. Mr. Stratton was heavily involved in the Bartow Sports Community. He was a former Bartow High School Assistant Basketball coach, Past President and coach of the Sunshine State Youth Football league, former Bartow Dixie Youth Baseball coach, former board member of the Bartow City Recreation Board, former coach of Youth Basketball in Bartow, and a radio broadcaster for Bartow High School Football and Softball. He is survived by his wife, of 46 years, Mary Stratton, his daughter Kimberly Hidle (Christopher), his son Michael Stratton (Camille) all of Bartow, his grandchildren: Ryan his wife Kayla, MacKenzie, Marc, Victoria, Delaney, Blake, Ceecee, Grace, Takeo, Mika, Xabi, Aya, and his sister Stephanie Geohagan of Charlotte, NC. The family will receive friends Sunday, April 3rd from 2pm to 5pm at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Funeral services will follow on Monday, April 4th at 11:00am at the First Assembly of God, 915 South Broadway in Bartow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Polk Education Foundation, c/o the Hearth Project for homeless children here in Polk County at www.polkeducationfoundation.org.