Donald Eugene Freeland, age 76 passed away on March 5, 2024. He was born on May 19, 1947 to Nelson Eugene and Florine Ruth Freeland in San Angelo, Texas.
Growing up in a military family, he spent his early years in California, Kansas, Louisiana, and Nebraska before returning to his native Texas. Donald attended San Angelo Central High School, graduating in 1965. He then obtained his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering in 1970 from The University of Texas at Austin. Donald subsequently served in the U.S Army and was deployed as a combat engineer in Vietnam. After the military, Donald obtained his Master’s in Business Administration in 1976, also from UT Austin. In 1977 Donald began his 33 years in the oil and gas industry as a mechanical engineer. He advanced to Project Engineer, participating in the design and construction of refineries and chemical processing facilities across the globe. His assignments took him throughout the USA as well as to Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico and the UK prior to retiring in 2010. Colleagues and clients appreciated the depth of his knowledge and experience, and recognized him as the consummate problem-solver. In retirement he enjoyed leisure travel with his wife and family. Throughout his life he was an avid follower of Indycar and IRL auto racing, world events, Cosmology and Ufology.
Donald is survived by his wife, Donna Freeland; his sister Betty Allison (Gil) and his brother-in-law Bob Dittmer (Susan); his niece Laura Bristo (Jeff), his niece Karen Spencer (Jason) and his nephew Christopher Allison (Julia).
Donald was preceded in death by his father Nelson Eugene Freeland and his mother Florine Ruth Freeland.
In Lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels www.fortbendseniors.org, World Central Kitchen www.wck.org, or Guide Dogs for the Blind www.guidedogs.com
