Donald Clayton Beatty Jr.

Donald Clayton Beatty, Jr., 76, of Lubbock went home to be with his Lord on Monday, October 14, 2019. He was born August 5, 1943 in Greensboro, North Carolina to Donald Clayton and Alma Marie Beatty.

Donald graduated from Eastern New Mexico University on May 12, 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

He served 20 years in the United States Air Force, holding positions as an Aircraft Engine Mechanic, a Maintenance Scheduling Technician for Precision Measurement Equipment, and an Equal Opportunity & Human Relations Counselor and Instructor. (While serving in Vietnam he was exposed to Agent Orange, which contributed to his later disability.) He retired as a Master Sergeant, 30 Sep 1984.

While stationed at George AFB, in Victorville, CA, he met the love of his life, Lynda Kay. They were married on 14 February, 1989.

After retirement from the Air Force, Donald worked for two years as Marketing Director of a Workshop for Disabled Adults in Apple Valley, California.

His final career was in the United States Postal Service, where he served for 20 years, first as a Rural Letter Carrier, then Union Steward, and finally as Assistant State Steward for Education.

Donald was an active member of Southcrest Baptist Church.

He was also a member of the National Rifle Association, National Rural Letter Carriers Association, Life Member of Mensa, and Former Area Governor for Toastmasters Area B1, in Southern California.

Don loved to travel with his wife Lynda, and often included other family members and friends. He also enjoyed target shooting, woodworking, yard work, cooking, and petting his cats in front of the fireplace. He loved to feed the birds, or any animal that was hungry. His pets have included horses, dogs, cats, goldfish and Desert Tortoises.

In both his military and civilian careers, Don’s greatest satisfaction was in helping those who were inexperienced, disadvantaged, or mistreated. In the Air Force, he counseled and advised those with complaints of discrimination or sexual harassment. As Marketing Director of a sheltered workshop in Southern California, he found meaningful work for adults with disabilities, and helped them to increase their job skills. He negotiated several major contracts to employ his clients, including stocking shelves at the George AFB Commissary, and maintenance work at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds. As a Union Steward for Rural Letter Carriers in the Postal Service, he negotiated grievances between workers and management. As an instructor in both the Air Force and the Postal Service, he taught students how to do their jobs more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and treat everyone with respect.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, and by his step-father Robert A. Bishop.

He is survived by his wife, Lynda Kay of Lubbock, two sisters, Marti Smith and husband Michael of Greensboro, North Carolina; and Marie Bishop of High Point, North Carolina, niece Chelsea Crim and Husband, Evan of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Lynda and the family want to thank the doctors, nursing staff and therapist at Covenant Medical Center, particularly Donald’s primary physician Dr. Joshua Hill; and Dr. Shakespeare and the nursing staff in the ICU who provided such attentive and compassionate care in his last days.

A Memorial Service will be held at Southcrest Baptist Church on Monday, 21 October at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lubbock chapter of Gideons International, or The Helping Hands Ministry of Southcrest Baptist Church.