He attended Lake Forest Park Elementary and Roosevelt High School. He spent two years at the University of Washington and was studying architecture when he joined the Navy in 1942.
He was sent to boot camp in Farragut, Idaho and then went on to Iowa State University where he graduated from United States Naval Training School (Diesel). He then received orders to Newport, Virginia and then onward to England where he was assigned to a LCT (Landing Craft, Tank). His vessel participated in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. They successfully landed many tanks and troops on Omaha beach which came with great sacrifice. Their vessel was struck numerous times and was in peril of sinking. Following the invasion, Donald was reassigned to the Pacific theater on a LST (Landing Ship, Tank) where he spent time in China, Philippines, Korea, and Japan.
He finished his naval duty after the war was over and returned to Seattle. Donald started his career in the airline industry. He worked for Pan American, Pacific Northern Airlines, and Western Airlines. In 1971, he founded Air Spares, Inc. (Puyallup) supplying aircraft parts and equipment to the airlines around the world.
On June 20, 1953, Donald married the love of his life, Jeanne Torrey. He designed and built their first home in Sheridan Heights where they raised their two children. Donald and Jeanne loved to travel, ski, boat, and play golf. They spent many of their winters in Indian Wells, California and their summers cruising on their boat "Hilaria". They were University of Washington Football fans and rarely missed a home game.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne Brown and leaves behind his brother, Warren O. Brown, daughter, Stacy A. Carrillo (Ricardo), son, Steven K. Brown (Mishal) and grandchildren, Sonja, Jamie, Kimberly, Cory, Kris, Evan, and Jacob.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at 11:00 am at Acacia Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Seattle, WA.
Arrangements under the direction of Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington.
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