Donald Paul Colby

12/5/2021 Somerset-Reno, NV - 88 years old

Don was born in San Jose California on February 12, 1933, the son of late Donald Oliver Colby

and Pauline K. Colby.

Don’s family lived in Willow Glen, a suburb of San Jose, and was educated at Willow Glen

Grammar School and Lincoln and Willow Glen High School where he graduated as a member of

the 1st graduating class of 1951.

Don attended Stanford University and San Jose State University graduating in the winter of

1956 with a degree in Political Science and History. It was here that he met the love of his life

Lee, deceased September 18, 2019, and spent the next 65 years together. After graduating San

Jose State Don, who was already a member of the Marine Corps Reserves, was commissioned

a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves. The next 5 years Don and his family were

stationed at Marine Corps Quantico, Naval Air Station Pensacola and finally Marine Corps Air

Station Santa Anna.

After release from active duty in the summer of 1961 Don was hired by United Airlines and flew

with United until being hired by Delta Airlines in the fall of 1962.

Don flew for Delta for the next 31 years, flying the C-46, Convair 440, Douglas DC-6, 7, 8, 9 and

Boeing 727 and he retired in February of 1993.

While pursuing his career as a commercial pilot, Don and his family raised cattle and horses on

their ranch in Copper Canyon, Texas often supplying fellow pilots with fresh beef. Don was one

of the founding fathers of Copper Canyon, helping incorporate the new community as a member

of the Board of Alderman and later Mayor of Copper Canyon.

Don who had been raised around the automotive business was an avid car hobbyist building his

1st car while attending Junior High school. He continued to be involved with automobiles his

whole life, collecting a number of vehicles both foreign and domestic.

Don and his wife Lee established homes in Santa Fe and Reno and traveled extensively in their

recreational vehicles throughout their lives visiting Mexico, Canada, and most of the United

States. They finally resettled in Reno, Nevada in the Sierras for retirement.

Don is survived by his granddaughters, Lindsey Colby Benningfield and husband Josh and

great granddaughter Everleigh, Elizabeth Colby Videen and her husband Gregory, and Emily

Colby, all of Dallas, Texas.

Don is survived by nephews Paul Villareal, Brian Kuehnis, and niece Cindi Tarangioli and

families of San Jose, California.

A graveside service for Donald will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 1:30 PM at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.willowglenfuneralhome.com for the Colby family.