Donald Elton Hunter

Don was born in South Bend, IN on July 17, 1928 to Osel and Paul Hunter. He grew up in the Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin, lN. At sixteen he moved to South Bend where he graduated from Riley High School. He was a 1951 graduate of Miami University, Oxford, OH and a member of SAE Fraternity. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Central FL.

After college graduation Don entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in Pensacola, FL. While in flight training he met his future wife, Jacqueline Marshall. Upon receiving his commission and wings, he and Jackie were married on December 26,1953 at the Pensacola Naval Air Station Chapel.

During Don’s active duty military service he served as a Patrol Plane Commander with VP-5 in NAS Jacksonville, FL. After completing active duty he continued flying with U.S. Navy Squadrons at NAS Memphis and NAS New Orleans. He subsequently cross-commissioned into the USAF Reserves and flew multi engine aircraft out of Brookley AFB and Maxwell AFB. Don served 26 years in the military and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel Command Pilot with the USAF Reserves.

In 1957 Don moved with his wife and their daughters, LeDonna and Leslie, to Pensacola, FL where he taught and coached at Pensacola High School. He went on to work at St. Regis Paper Co. and the U.S. Navy School of Photography.

Don moved his family to Maitland, FL in 1967 where he was employed by the Naval Training Equipment Center.

Don is survived by his wife Jacqueline, daughters LeDonna Almon {J.T.} and Leslie Walton {Douglas}, along with grandchildren John Thomas Almon, Nathan Almon {Brittany}, Claire Shehan {Sean}, Rachel Scott {Benjamin}, Alex Walton {Christine}, Adam Walton {Anna}, Camille Lukachyk {Nate} and Ethan Walton {Rebecca}. He is also survived by eleven great grandchildren. Don is survived by a daughter of heart, sister-in-law Gayle McCoy, and her children Keith, Leann and Brent. He is also survived by his sister Rosemary Snyder of Leesburg, FL and many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sister Lorraine Soellner and brother Richard Hunter.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the First Baptist Church of Winter Park; 1021 N. New York Avenue, Winter Park, Florida with Dr. Walter Jackson officiating.