Don passed away on Friday, August 2, 2024 due to a fall. There will be a private burial soon and a Celebration of Life is being planned for sometime in September for family and friends. That Celebration will be posted on the website when plans are finalized. Please keep Cynthia Chapman Payte and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers.
Carl is right, it is hard to think of Don is the past-tense. We rarely saw each other, but when we did he had that great smile and when he asked how you were doing, he wanted to hear the answer. Truly a good man. Cynthia, losing such a good person is certainly difficult, but I hope you will be comforted by knowing how much he depended on you and loved you.
Cynthia, Sorry to hear about Don. We were on the track team at Paschal. He was always kind and helpful. A mutual friend talked to him about track at the 50th reunion. Don was able to remember everyboy on the team and what thier event was. He could recall details and appreciate everyone's contributions. All of us appreciated him as well. He shall be missed.
So many things to say, and so few words to express them. I have many memories of the two of you from the early times at Wedgwood, through Paschal, and into the reunion years. The one that keeps popping up in my mind is at a reunion. Cynthia was in a stunning black dress and Don in a tuxedo! Clearly, they just stepped off the top of a cake somewhere. Cynthia, I am so deeply sorry for your loss of Don, and so grateful at the same time that I have friends who loved each other through all of life's ups and downs such as the two of you. It was a privilege to know Don. My sympathies to you and the entire family.
This is to close to home. I know that dying is a part part of the life cycle, but I wasn't ready for this and I can say that no one was. It really was to close to home. Don and I spent a lot of time on the field and on the track during our time at Paschal. He will be missed.
Cynthia, it isn't easy to accept and process Don's passing for he was such a wonderful guy. I have been reflecting on the past with such positive memories and thankful for my recent interactions with Don. I always thought he had a natural leadership style exhibited calm confidence and was a natural athlete. His leadership was evident with the track team and with our social club. As time wore away the youthful energy his kindness, affable personality always made me feel happy to see him and visit with him. I enjoyed our conversations each time we had an event and would look forward to seeing him.
" Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom," Marcel Proust
I feel fortunate to be a part of a class of people who make an effort to stay connected. These connections enhance our relationships and give us a perspective of life changes through time. The frequent activities we have; reunions, luncheons, and special events make more memories. I am so glad that I attended for I recall the many conversations with Don; talking about the track team and laughing about the many escapes we were involved with. I would not have had these memories of Don without the effort of Debbie and her team, Billy's generosity, and Lowell Hudson's luncheons. The numerous friendships provide happy times for us all but carry with them the burden of accepting loss. This burden, the sense of emptiness is filled by the many friends who show support and is a wonderful gift.
Cynthia, I am sending my thoughts of support, strength, and love.
" There are many things that grow more precious with age; old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to enjoy" Henry Ford
To all his family and friends who loved and liked Don my deepest thoughts go out to you.Don was a fine upstanding gentleman who no one ever said a bad word about He and I had talked a few days before his passing about classic cars and boats.Many will miss surely him as I will.I can still see him driving his blue Camaro in high school and running track on the State Champion Track Team! A great man. RIP pal
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Don passed away on Friday, August 2, 2024 due to a fall. There will be a private burial soon and a Celebration of Life is being planned for sometime in September for family and friends. That Celebration will be posted on the website when plans are finalized. Please keep Cynthia Chapman Payte and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers.
Lewis Hall, Jr.
I am so sorry to hear about Don. I always enjoyed seeing him at our group lunch. He is going to be missed. Prayers for the family.
Jay Jackson
Cynthia, my deepest sympathy to you. Don was one of my favorites in our class and a friend...
David Keltner
Carl is right, it is hard to think of Don is the past-tense. We rarely saw each other, but when we did he had that great smile and when he asked how you were doing, he wanted to hear the answer. Truly a good man. Cynthia, losing such a good person is certainly difficult, but I hope you will be comforted by knowing how much he depended on you and loved you.
Robert Rios
Cynthia, Sorry to hear about Don. We were on the track team at Paschal. He was always kind and helpful. A mutual friend talked to him about track at the 50th reunion. Don was able to remember everyboy on the team and what thier event was. He could recall details and appreciate everyone's contributions. All of us appreciated him as well. He shall be missed.
Cathy Hurley
I am so sorry to hear this sad news about Don. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Gail Wittenberg
Cynthia,
My heart goes out to you and your family at this time.
This is a great loss to all who knew Don. He was such a kind and friendly person.
I feel lucky to have know him at Paschal and in later years of reunions and meetings.
My thoughts and Blessings are with you.
Love,Gail
Deborah Allen (Tullis)
So many things to say, and so few words to express them. I have many memories of the two of you from the early times at Wedgwood, through Paschal, and into the reunion years. The one that keeps popping up in my mind is at a reunion. Cynthia was in a stunning black dress and Don in a tuxedo! Clearly, they just stepped off the top of a cake somewhere. Cynthia, I am so deeply sorry for your loss of Don, and so grateful at the same time that I have friends who loved each other through all of life's ups and downs such as the two of you. It was a privilege to know Don. My sympathies to you and the entire family.
Jerry Holmes
This is to close to home. I know that dying is a part part of the life cycle, but I wasn't ready for this and I can say that no one was. It really was to close to home. Don and I spent a lot of time on the field and on the track during our time at Paschal. He will be missed.
Van Green
Cynthia, it isn't easy to accept and process Don's passing for he was such a wonderful guy. I have been reflecting on the past with such positive memories and thankful for my recent interactions with Don. I always thought he had a natural leadership style exhibited calm confidence and was a natural athlete. His leadership was evident with the track team and with our social club. As time wore away the youthful energy his kindness, affable personality always made me feel happy to see him and visit with him. I enjoyed our conversations each time we had an event and would look forward to seeing him.
" Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom," Marcel Proust
I feel fortunate to be a part of a class of people who make an effort to stay connected. These connections enhance our relationships and give us a perspective of life changes through time. The frequent activities we have; reunions, luncheons, and special events make more memories. I am so glad that I attended for I recall the many conversations with Don; talking about the track team and laughing about the many escapes we were involved with. I would not have had these memories of Don without the effort of Debbie and her team, Billy's generosity, and Lowell Hudson's luncheons. The numerous friendships provide happy times for us all but carry with them the burden of accepting loss. This burden, the sense of emptiness is filled by the many friends who show support and is a wonderful gift.
Cynthia, I am sending my thoughts of support, strength, and love.
" There are many things that grow more precious with age; old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to enjoy" Henry Ford
Lowell Hudson
To all his family and friends who loved and liked Don my deepest thoughts go out to you.Don was a fine upstanding gentleman who no one ever said a bad word about He and I had talked a few days before his passing about classic cars and boats.Many will miss surely him as I will.I can still see him driving his blue Camaro in high school and running track on the State Champion Track Team! A great man. RIP pal