Ray Donald "Don" Blatz, age 87, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away on October 7, 2026. He was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, on February 12, 1939, the son of Raymond D. and Ruth L. (Doty) Blatz.

He earned both his Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from the University of Dayton and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1999. Over the course of his career, he worked as an Auditor at Mead Corporation, Vice President of Finance at Micro Devices, and Treasurer at Mead Data Central, later serving in Mergers and Acquisitions at LexisNexis. He later finished his career at LITEFLEX Composite Springs, retiring as their CFO. It was during his time at Mead Corporation that he reconnected with Pauline, whom he had known since childhood as a friend of her older brother, Bob. They were married on October 29, 1966 and shared a deep, lifelong love. He regularly and lovingly referred to her as "Pogo."

Above all, he was a dedicated family man who cherished time spent with his children and grandchildren. Family trips were a staple of his life, from annual spring break vacations to Florida with Pauline, Lisa and Greg, to later cruises and overseas travel with Pauline. Once he became a grandfather, he started a tradition of hosting an annual beach trip for all 12 family members, affectionately known as the "family retreat."

An avid sports fan, he was a lifelong University of Dayton basketball season ticket holder. He possessed a sharp mind for finances and closely followed the stock market, stayed up to date on current events, and shared a great sense of humor with everyone around him. He also had a soft spot for red Mustang convertibles, owning both a 1972 model and a 1984 model—the latter affectionately dubbed "Flowerpot" in its later years.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Pauline (Jacobson) Blatz, whom he married on October 29, 1966. He was a devoted father to Lisa (Brad) Pence and Gregory (Ashlyn) Blatz, and a proud grandfather to Jason, Sam, Ella, Jacob, Evelyn, and Otto. He is also survived by his brother, Michael (Debbie) Blatz; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon (Janice) Blatz, and two sisters-in-law, Louise Jacobson-Ehrensberger and Phyllis Jacobson-Dworack.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 10-11am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6245 Wilmington Pike. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his honor beginning at 11:00am. He will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.

The WESTBROCK & DANIEL FUNERAL HOME- KETTERING is serving his family.