Major Donald Eugene Salsbury

Major Donald Eugene Salsbury laid down his sword and was promoted to glory on the morning of May 17th, 2026.

Donald was born on Friday, December 13th, 1937. The oldest of four children, Donald and his siblings endured abuse and hardship as children until they were taken in and raised by grandparents, Fred and Pearl (Flynn) Salsbury. Donald married his beloved wife, Barbara, on June 9th, 1956, and was a devoted husband for nearly seventy years. Donald and Barbara had five children: Cathy, Jeff, Scott, Karla, and Guy. Donald served the Lord with his wife as officers for The Salvation Army for thirty two-and-a-half years before retiring in 2003. Donald and Barbara retired to Holland, MI until moving to Rockford, IL in late 2019 to be closer to their son, Scott. Donald spent the remainder of his life faithfully serving the Lord soldiering at The Salvation Army Rockford Temple Corps.

Donald is preceded in Heaven by: grandparents Fred and Pearl (Flynn) Salsbury, brothers Gary and Earl Salsbury, and children Cathy, Guy, and Scott Salsbury. He is remembered well by those he leaves behind: his wife, Barbara Salsbury, his sister, Helen Walters, brother-in-law Eldon “Bucky” Wright, children, Jeff and Karla Salsbury, and daughter-in-law Karen Salsbury, and grandchildren, Nick, Todd, and Brad Salsbury, Bailey Grindle, and Devin Davis-Scott, Sean, Jacob, and Kaleigh Wise and their families.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at The Salvation Army Rockford Temple Corps, 500 S Rockford Ave. Rockford, IL 61104 at 9:00 AM with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 10:30. The family asks that, if you feel inclined, please bring a pink carnation in to lay on his casket in honor of Donald’s life, or consider making a donation to The Salvation Army in lieu of flowers.

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