Each of our residents has their own personal history and memories, and Donna Eilbeck’s story is truly unique.
When news of the attack on Pearl Harbor broke, the then-teenaged Donna Joan Lewis was part of a girls’ trio, singing live on a Chicago radio program. “Nobody really knew what was happening at the time” Donna recalled. “We just kept on singing.”
Several days later, our country entered World War II, and young Donna—fresh out of high school—would become part of the war effort.
She was tapped to join an all-girls’ band with the USO’s Camp Shows program, designed to provide live entertainment for the troops. The bands performed at hundreds of large military bases and hospitals.
“I got to see the United States with the USO Camp Shows,” she said. “I always call them ‘my college education’.”
In addition to singing, Donna was a talented musician, as were her parents and sister.
“Most girls played the violin, or piano, or the flute—but not me,” she said with a grin. “I played the trombone!”
She was also a dancer as a child, particularly adept at the physically demanding acrobatic and adagio-style dance. Being tossed high in the air to another dancer, or performing acrobatic floor routines could be a tad risky.
Tracing her finger over a scar along her left eyebrow, she simply said, “Loew’s Theater, Akron, Ohio.”
Donna went on to marry a fellow trombonist, the late Gorman Eilbeck, and they raised a family of three in her native Ohio. Donna’s children and her grandchildren are all musicians.
Donna’s pianist daughter, Jana (pictured left with Donna), recently entertained residents with a fun sing-along during a social hour.
She moved from Ohio to the Decatur House only a month ago, but already Donna has become a fun member of our family, noted for her ready smile and delightful sense of humor.
When she looks back to her early days, Donna says she was “blessed” to have had such warm, loving parents, and it had been “an honor and a privilege” to serve her country.
Welcome home to Decatur House Donna!
