He attended Ithaca Public Schools and graduated from Ithaca High School in June, 1943. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at 17, trained in Syracuse, NY, Mountain Home, ID, and Monroe, LA. Don was granted his Wings as a B-24 Navigator and was stationed in Japan.
After WWII, he returned to Ithaca and graduated from Cornell as a Mechanical Engineer. He became employed in Buffalo, NY where he met his bride, Mary Lewis, wedded February 17, 1951 and was soon recalled to USAF Active Duty for 18 months in Korea.
Son (Donald) was born March 1953 at Barksdale AF Base in Shreveport, LA. Power Plant engineering sales led to work with American Standard in Chicago, IL where daughter (Debbie) was born in January 1956. He was promoted and transferred to Kansas City in late 1958, living in Prairie Village, KS for 25 years.
Don became a co-owner of Kansas City Equipment Company in the mid-1960's and completed 20 years of military service with the Air Force Reserves. Don and Mary traveled extensively throughout the USA and Europe. He volunteered with Sertoma, the Veterans Administration, Meals on Wheels, and Faith Lutheran Church. After retirement from the National Guard, Don purchased farm land in LaCygne, KS and enjoyed many years of clearing land and tending a garden. After living in Overland Park for 20 years, Don and Mary moved to Lakeview Village in Lenexa, KS in 2004.
Don was preceded in death by his sister, Elma Hamister, and his wife, Mary Rumsey, who passed away in January 2022. He is survived by his son Donald C. (wife Brenda), daughter Debbie Graeff (husband Ron), grandsons Mike Rumsey, David Graeff, Ben Graeff, James Rumsey, and granddaughter Kate Gilbertson (husband Matt).
Don will always be remembered as a man of quiet compassion, discipline, principle, integrity and a strong handshake!
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18