Longtime Iowa Grocer Donald Trumbull Dies at 94

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Donald Dewey Trumbull, a longtime grocer in Norway, Iowa who owned and operated Ray's FoodLand from 1957 to 1988, passed away on February 19, 2026 at the age of 94 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Trumbull served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and later moved to Mission, Texas with his wife Beverly before settling in Cedar Rapids in his later years.

Why it matters

Trumbull's passing marks the end of an era for the small town of Norway, Iowa, where he was a pillar of the community for over three decades as the owner of the local grocery store. His life and career highlight the changing landscape of small-town retail in the Midwest over the past several decades.

The details

Trumbull worked at and later owned Ray's FoodLand in Norway, Iowa from 1957 to 1988. After retiring, he and his wife Beverly lived in Mission, Texas from 1999 to 2004 before settling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Trumbull served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean War, stationed in Okinawa.

• Trumbull was born on September 7, 1931 on the family farm in Coggon, Iowa.
• He graduated from Coggon High School in 1949.
• Trumbull served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean War.
• He married Beverly Topping on February 26, 1956.
• Trumbull owned and operated Ray's FoodLand in Norway, Iowa from 1957 to 1988.
• He then worked at Lefebure from 1989 to 1999.
• Trumbull and his wife Beverly lived in Mission, Texas from 1999 to 2004 before settling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• Trumbull passed away on February 19, 2026 at the age of 94 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.