Donza Worden

After a reunion party with family and old friends followed by a brief illness, Donza died peacefully Oct. 4, 2014, with all of his beloved and close family by his side, holding his hands.

Born on June 19, 1926, to the late Roberta Casto Wilson and Harold Worden of Parkersburg, he graduated from Parkersburg High School at the age of 16 and entered the U.S. Navy at age 17 during World War II.

Donza was a WV Mountaineer at heart but went to University of Cincinnati after the Navy on the GI Bill, then to the Southern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, where he graduated with a degree in Optometry and headed back to Parkersburg. Along the way, he met and married Ethel Rodenberg on Dec. 27, 1947.

Donza had a successful career and large practice as an optometrist in Parkersburg, and finished out his career when he joined his practice with Ron Frame, OD, and the staff and optometrists of Optometric Physicians of Parkersburg. His relationship with Frame and his staff was a high point in his successful career. In 1976, he was elected to the WV Legislature where he served four terms until 1984. Donza’s highlight was his passage of the bill allowing optometrists to prescribe medications for their patients. It was the first state in the nation to allow this practice. In June 2013, the American Optometric Association, while celebrating its 50th anniversary, selected this accomplishment as “the 4th most momentous achievement in the practice of Optometry.”

The AOA News ran the following article March 15, 1976. “The West Virginia legislature in overriding a gubernatorial veto has passed legislation allowing optometrists to use drugs for diagnostic purposes.and Donza T. Worden, O.D., a member of the West Virginia Legislature, was among those who testified on the bill which was first introduced in January.”

He was active in the Boy Scouts of America as a Troop Chairman, where both his sons and all of his grandsons became Eagle Scouts. He was also a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge.

During Donza’s brief illness, he realized he had played his last Texas Hold’em game, caught his last bass, and visited with his friends for the last time, but throughout it all, he maintained that the single most important accomplishment in his life was his three kids with Ethel Worden and their families, Donza and Catherine with Erin and Donza Thomas Worden III of Drummond Island, Mich., Stephen and Carla Worden with Arianne and Adrienne, of Harrisville, W.Va., and Dana and Steve Soper with Ian and Paige of Cincinnati. His great-grandkids are Greyson and Jackson Daume of Arianne (Jason), and Craig and Chloe Ioannou of Adrienne (Alex).

Donza’s last 11 years were spent on Drummond Island where he was affectionately known as “Dad” by all of his poker buddies, friends and acquaintances, regardless of how young or old they were. He will be missed by them.

The family had a private family memorial service where they toasted, shared stories, and celebrated their dad’s, granddad’s and great-granddad’s life, accomplishments and family legacy. He is going to be cremated holding Aces and Eights!

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Cincinnati in Donza’s name.

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