Donald Ray Jensen

Donald R. Jensen of Christiansburg, VA passed away Thursday, December 26, 2024. He was 92 years old. Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1932, Don spent his childhood years in Tennessee and Iowa during the Great Depression and World War II. After graduating from high school, Don earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a Masters and PhD from Iowa State University. He was a Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech in the Department of Statistics, serving on the faculty from 1965 until his retirement in 2006. He enjoyed teaching and especially research but was even more devoted to his family. Whether it was hiking with his daughters’ Girl Scout troop or attending father-son Boy Scout campouts, he always made time for his children. An avid outdoorsman, he loved taking his family fishing, hiking, camping, boating, canoeing and kayaking. 

During the early 1960’s, Don’s mother, Rubye Jensen, was the head nurse at a Nashville area hospital. Determined that her son not go through life alone, she decided to play matchmaker and invited several young nurses over to their farm for a cookout. One of them, Edith Durocher, quickly became his favorite person and lifelong companion. They were married in 1964 and were devoted to each other for over 60 years. In 1973, with prompting from Edith, he looked at a property for sale in the countryside near Christiansburg. He moved his family there later that year. He jokingly and affectionately referred to it as his “funny farm” and even until his final days just wanted to go back to the farm. He always said that the perfect counterbalance to mental fatigue from high mathematical research and other demands of academia was hard work around the farm.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Walter E. Jensen and Rubye I. Jensen, brother, Kenneth W. Jensen, sisters Annie L. Clark and Marilyn J. Dry. He is survived by his loving wife of over 60 years, Edith M. Jensen, four children: Daniel L. Jensen, Donna M. Cain (Cody), Alicia A. Jensen, and Andrew K. Jensen (DeAnna), three grandchildren: Kristi N. DeNovo (Anton), Christopher A. Cain, and Hannah M. Cain, and numerous nieces and nephews. A special thanks goes out to daughter, Alicia, who has tirelessly and selflessly cared for both parents, and kept them at their cherished home until a few weeks before his passing.

The family will receive friends on Monday December 30 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Horne Funeral home. A graveside service at Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg will follow at 12 Noon. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to one of his favorite charities, ADRA, which provides disaster relief: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring MD, 20904; www.adra.org.