| Notes |
- He attended Gaston County and WSFC schools but did not enjoy school. It was only when he took classes in the military that he began to love learning and enjoyed putting into practice what he learned inside classrooms. The United States Air Force is where his passion and curiosity for learning blossomed for years to come.
Don entered the newly formed USAF in January 1950 and served four years on active duty and was Honorably Discharged in January 1954. His most significant duty assignment was in the 806th Operations Squadron, 806th AB Group (SAC), Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana. He spent deployments above the Arctic Circle and was fascinated by the indigenous people he observed living there.
His career was with Western Electric Company, where he was involved with engineering, computers, and electronics. Again, he flourished in the classes, the training, and advancements he earned during the 30-plus years at Western Electric and Lucent Technologies. His job took him on frequent assignments to islands in the Pacific Ocean, where he scuba-dived during his time off. He was fascinated by the ocean floor and collected many sea shells.
Don enjoyed traveling to mountains, beaches, and lakes to fish and relax. He read western novels, watched old TV westerns, and followed NASCAR races.
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1932 - 2022 (89 years)
