Donald C Royston

Donald Chilcoat Royston passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, with his wife in attendance. Donald "Don" was born to George and Hilda Royston in Reisterstown, Maryland, June 6, 1933. He exercised race horses earning enough money to begin his passion with cars owning, at age 14, a 1941 Lincoln Continental while in high school and eventually owning over 79 different convertibles, still owning five. He always owned convertibles, his theory being if the "top goes down, the price goes up" which served him well throughout his colorful life. His occupations were in banking, marketing and public relations, (being a very close friend of former governor of Maryland, William D. Schaefer, deceased). He also developed land and was very active in the stock market since 1961. Don served in the U.S. Army in the Washington, D.C., area and also attended Auctioneers School in Clear Lake, Iowa. The antique car hobby became his passion forming the Antique Car Club of Greater Baltimore boasting 500 plus members. He promoted Corvettes (participating in Rallies) also Renaults, Nissan and American Motors for 15 years. Now living in Florida as a permanent resident since 1997, he was a member of the Punta Gorda and Charlotte County Chambers of Commerce, volunteering for the Salvation Army for 20 years and becoming a columnist for the Sun Newspapers in 2008 as the "You Auto Know" columnist. Don was a member of Antique Automobile Club of America since 1958. In 1999 he and his friend, Floyd Coffield, formed the Veteran (now Vintage) Motor Car Club of America. In 2010 the National VMCCA made this Chapter the Southwest Florida Region covering from Bradenton area to Naples. The antique car hobby has taken him to 44 states and three European Tours. Don will be taken to rest in his family founded Dover Methodist Church, Dover, Maryland, to be with the rest of his family being the last one. Don is survived by his wife of 11 years, Leona "Lee," two stepdaughters, Leona Land and grandson Jacob of Lakeland, Florida, and Michelle Shadowens, (Curtis) of Houston, Texas. The community and car hobby has lost a most knowledgeable and dedicated "Car Guy." A Celebration of Life will be held after the first of the year. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremations Services of Punta Gorda, FL.