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Don was cremated and his ashes are buried at Brankis National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL. His memorial service was on August 8, 2012 and his funeral was August 14, 2012. He was buried with full military honors as he was retired from the USAF. He is survived by his wife, Kim, of Crestview, FL, his son, Shawn, of Denton, TX, his sister, Tommie Jean of AK.
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Connie Ladd (Stephenson)
Don and I first met at PHS in September of 1967. He had a wonderful sense of humor, winning personality and the most beautiful smile. Plus he drove a 1957 Chevy Belaire hardtop, blue and white. He loved that car partly because he had rebuilt it himself. He often said that one day he would have loved to have gotten another one just like it.
Don and I had reconnected thanks to this website in September of 2009. He became my angel and helped me through some very tough times. He had a way of making me see things that opened my eyes to a lot. I am going to miss our "talks" on the computer. He was my light in the dark. He loved his wife, Kim. He met her in Korea and transplanted her to Florida. They had 33 beautiful years together. Don was an extremely gifted man. He was very innovative and could build something from nothing. He loved his home and his garden and worked hard to keep them both beautiful. Since his retirement in 2010 his health had been going downhill. In November, 2009 he had open heart surg ry for a valve replacement. In September, 2010 he suffered a stroke. After the stroke his peripherial vision in his left eye was nearly gone and he mostly stayed home. He had a lot of back problems and was in constant pain, but he never let that stop him from doing things he needed to do. He went about his business, did what needed to be done and took a pain pill to help with the pain. He was a true self made man. His daddy taught him that with hard work and perseverance he could do whatever he wanted to. He strived to be the man his daddy was and I believe that Don was successful. He hit life head on with a stubborn streak that a donkey would envy. I thank God for letting me get to know Don again. He introduced me to his lovely wife and I came to love her as a friend. I was blessed with getting to spend Don's last days with them. With Don's passing it goes to show the poem is true: "He saw you suffering and called you home, to prove that God only takes the best". The night that Don died his son and I drank a beer (a first for me) and toasted to a wonderful man that had gone before us to watch over us all and will greet us in the end. Here's to a true friend that will be very missed by his family and myself.
Don left this earth on August 3, 2012 at 7:54 p.m. He was born July 31, 1949 in Worley Hospital, Pampa, TX.