Donald Gene Bond, Jr.

Donnie was an only child who was doted on by his parents and grandparents. Growing up, he was a competitive swimmer and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father. From an early age, he had a distinctive, booming voice, soon to become a trademark quality, remembered by all who knew him.

He used that voice to full effect in high school drama, graduating from W.B. Ray shortly before a blind date with Katie Cook that turned into 49 years of life together.

He and Katie moved to Central Texas after high school, where Don graduated from Southwest Texas with a degree in education. He and Katie got married on August 5, 1972, and the Monday after their wedding, Don began his 39-year career at Leander ISD. There he taught many generations of Leander Lions, and, after the district implemented a new payroll system, earned his rightful title as Employee No. 1.

While at Leander he taught English, Speech, Drama and Humanities, spending several years as the voice of the Leander football team, and watching the school grow around him, from a 2A high school near a blinking red light, to one where several schools are now named after some of his former colleagues.

After seven years of marriage, Don and Katie welcomed their daughter Ellen, and three years later, their son David. Don’s devotion to his students was surpassed only by his love for his children, as he became a doting father, attending soccer and football games, band concerts, school plays, and buying any musical instrument David wanted to try. He and Katie took the family on trips every summer and spring break, visiting relatives across the country, with Don throwing in some history lessons, and documenting everything with his camera. As the kids got older, Don instilled life lessons, making sure Ellen knew how to change a tire before heading off to college.

He retired from teaching in 2011, taking his distinctive style from the classroom, but leaving a lasting impact on the lives of his students. David and Ellen often meet his former students, who always say he was both the toughest and the best teacher they’d ever had.

He was always eager for a conversation about literature, including Shakespeare, a particular favorite, or about someone’s pets. Throughout his life, Don was never without a pet, and often had a menagerie, loving each of them as members of the family.

Don also loved projects – or loved to start projects, but the only ones he seemed to finish were reconstructing antique clocks, a love he inherited, along with several clocks, and stories about clocks, from his father. Don and his father were best friends, sharing a bond far stronger than a last name, and talked for hours each day before Don, Sr. passed away in 2013.

As his children grew older, he was always available for advice, support and love, despite battling health problems. He was thrilled to welcome Karina and Travis to his family as David, and then Ellen, married. On March 28, 2015, Don met the second great love of his life, his granddaughter Charlotte. He delighted in her presence, and no matter how bad Don may have been feeling, a ‘Hi Pops’ from Charlie made the years fall away.

His relationship with Charlie summed up his feelings about his family - some people show they care with what they say, others with what they do, but Don did both.

In his later years, he taught some of his most important lessons - how to be a good father, how to love unconditionally, and how to endure life’s slings and arrows with grace.

Generous with his time and with his advice, he would drop everything to help a friend, especially his sisters-in-law, providing emotional support to not only his kids, but an extended family of nieces and nephews who knew that voice would always be there for them on the other end of the line.

His life, love, and voice continue to echo for his wife Katie, his daughter Ellen and husband Travis, his son David and wife Karina, his granddaughter Charlie, his sister-in-law Jane Rendeiro and daughters Rachel and Amelia and her husband Ivan, sister-in-law Caroline Cook, nieces Darcy and Madi and numerous cousins, former students, and friends, who all will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Austin Recovery, and Oak Hill United Methodist Church, and encourages those inspired by Don to give a living tribute by choosing to become an organ donor.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park with a Celebration of Don’s Life to follow at 1:30 P.M. at Oak Hill United Methodist Church, 7815 Hwy. 290 W.