Donald Joseph McIntyre

Donald Joseph McIntyre went to be with the Lord on May 7, 2019. Don was at home surrounded by his closest family at the time of his passing. Don was born on January 10, 1929 in St. Louis, MO, the son of the late Katherine Sabina Mulderig and the late John Patrick McIntyre. He graduated from St. Louis University High School. Don attended and received his BS Degree in Foreign Language and History at Central Missouri State University. While at Central Missouri State, he met his future wife, Doris Ernestine Wood. Don joined the Marine Corps like his big brother Jack. The Marine Corps needed officers and since Don had his college degree he was sent to Quantico after boot camp. He graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and then to Captain, 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division and was given a demolitions platoon. Don was then on his way to the Korean War. While in theater, he was asked to obtain volunteers to set charges to demo as many pillboxes as possible on Bunker Hill. He and his men took to the hill and immediately began taking enemy fire. Upon setting their charges, and on the way back to their position, they took on more enemy fire. As they made it back to their position the enemy was undoing their charges. Only two worked and the Commanding Officer contacted Don and said you must go back and reset the hill. Don asked the same volunteers and back to Bunker Hill they went. More enemy fire ensued, and they set even more charges this time and made it back with no casualties. They blew up the hill successfully and later in the week the Marines took Bunker Hill. Don was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic life-saving mission and all his men were to be awarded Bronze Stars. When Don was informed that his men were to receive Bronze and not Silver, he told the Brass that, “We either all get Silver, or we all get the Bronze”. We were all getting shot at and I will receive the same medal as my men. Don served from 1951 to 1960 in Korea and Stateside. The last 5 years were special projects and recruiting more jarheads. Don found his love for bagpipes in Korea, from black watch regiment of pipers. He couldn’t believe they wore those Kilts. Doris and Donald married on August 29, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was active in his children’s sports. He coached soccer, softball and basketball. After moving to Texas from Missouri, Don joined the Farmers Branch-Carrollton Rotary Club where he served as treasurer. While being very active in community affairs, he began to coach soccer again. The sport was so new to Texas he and other coaches had to “build” their own field with rakes and shovels to practice. Games were played at Don Showman Park, a football field. It was a weak league and contained 6 teams which all had a little talent. All the coaches were parents with little to no soccer knowledge. Don had a meeting with the only coach, Bruce Stewart, who was learning and loving the sport. Bruce had recently returned from Vietnam. Army, 82nd Airborne. They decided to conduct open tryouts and create one team, the Texans, and go to the Dallas league. There they pioneered the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce Soccer league with two coaches from the Dallas league. Twelve competitive teams that within a years’ time was renamed the Dallas Select Soccer League. The Texans were league Champions two out of three years and were 24 & 0 one of those seasons. Teams had to qualify to enter the league and Soccer began to slowly gain credibility here in Texas. Don and Bruce then went on to coach the local, non-school sponsored, high school team for R.L. Turner (the Lions) and led the Lions soccer club to district Champions. They then went on to coach a women’s team before retiring from soccer. Leaving the sport firmly entrenched in North Texas. Don was also an inventor and had 2 patents under his belt. He couldn’t believe the U.S. armed forces were still using the same old e-tool(shovel) for trenches and wire brushes to clean Canon “tubes”. He developed, engineered, tested and patented a new shovel, 27 ounces lighter and even contained a saw and pic ax. Don then developed and engineered a new self-centering cleaning system for Canons. This allowed one man to do the job of 3-4. All from his garage. Don was also the man responsible for bringing Break-Free, the 1st Teflon based cleaner/lubricant, to the military. They adopted it for small arms, rifle and big bore cleaning. Don is survived by his daughter Kelley McIntyre Karlson and her husband Dr. Kevin Karlson of Richardson, TX, Son Stephan McIntyre of Bedford, TX and daughter Tierney McIntyre and her fiancé,’ Ahmed Kahn of Plano, TX. Here are some words that best describe Don: disciplined, honorable, loving, kind, strong, courageous, God-fearing, generous, spirited, intelligent, brilliant coach, a shining light, a compass, TL’s, adaptation, a good husband, a good father, a good brother, a good teacher, a good friend and a good person. He will be sadly missed by his family and all those who knew him. In closing, the McIntyre children consider themselves blessed to have gotten to know their Father as a friend and a confidante. He had a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous smile as we watched him spread his kindness and friendship to those he knew and befriended. Gifts we will never forget. A memorial service and reception celebrating Don’s life will be held at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 8011 Frankford Rd, Dallas, TX 75252 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.