     To me, he was always Uncle Donald.  The first meeting that I can recall was in the mid 1950's.  He came to Davis, California to visit his brother John, sister-in-law Helen and their five children (Suzanne, Priscilla, Charles, Harvey and Leslie).  I was the middle kid, and around seven at the time; he was about thirty.  I clearly remember how impressive he looked.  At well over 6' tall, he towered over all of us, including my father.  He was very lean, but fit, deeply tanned and had dark hair.  He wore wire-rimmed glasses, which seemed to catch my attention.  The most striking feature though was his navy blue wool sailor suit: the spit-shined black leather shoes, bell bottom trousers with button fly, and the jumper with the three rows of white stripes on the collar and cuffs and 2 white stars at the corners of the tar flap.  He also wore a black neckerchief, which was rolled diagonally, around his neck under the tar flap, with the ends tied in a square knot in the center of his chest.  I also remember the patch on his arm with the white eagle.  Of course, the canvas white Dixie cup sailor hat was also part of his uniform.  Studying an old photograph taken at the time shows that he was a Petty Officer Second Class and an Interior Communications Electrician. 
     A few years later he showed up again, this time riding a huge British Ariel Square Four motorcycle.  If my research is correct, the four pipe' 997 cc engine produced 40 horsepower and was capable of going over 100 miles per hour.  It weighed 425 pounds.  Being a little older, I started seeing more than just his exterior. To me, Uncle Donald was now perceived as adventurous, which I later came to realize as a prominent trait in other members of the family.  He was well read, articulate, and very witty.  Still in the Navy, he was climbing the ranks.  Eventually he would become a Lieutenant Commander, something of which I have always been immensely proud.  I was also very impressed to learn years later that he had served with the Navy's Seabees during World War II and had helped to transform some part of the Admiralty Islands, once they were wrestled away from the Japanese.  He would also, in the early 1960's, serve aboard the supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk, the last oil fired aircraft carrier in service with the US Navy.  
     While I was in high school, he visited again.  This time with his wife Irene and their children in tow.  A family man at last.  
     In July of 1985, while on the way from Idaho to California to visit family; my wife, daughter and I stopped in Bremerton.  We were treated like royalty.  Uncle Donald gave us a tour of the area, including the waterfront, where the USS Missouri was moored at that time.  We went aboard, and I'll never forget standing on the mighty battleship's teak deck in the very spot where the Japanese signed the instrument of surrender.  He even got us as close as he could to the top secret, hush, hush, submarine base at Bangor.  During our short visit, we were also able to be part of the 50th anniversary observance of the famed B-17 Flying Fortress held at nearby Boeing Field south of Seattle.  The sights, sounds and smells of the huge bombers as they started their engines, taxied, took off and flew overhead in formation was incredible.  Shortly before leaving, the always gracious Irene gave us a bag full of her mouth-watering lumpia to be eaten during the long drive ahead.  They were all gone before noon.  What a fabulous cook.    
     Sadly, the last time we crossed paths was in the mid 1990's when Uncle Donald and Irene were traveling in California.  Since then, it had been the infrequent letter, phone call or update from his sister Pat that kept me in touch.  It's interesting, after someone passes, noticing the memories and thoughts that begin to surface.  To me, he is remembered for his adventurous spirit, service to the nation, wit, generosity, and love of his family.  In the days ahead, I know there will be many more memories to surface: like the bolo tie, with the polished stone, that he wore, and the tiny Honda Civic he drove flat out, and some of his interesting conspiracy theories.  Rest in Peace Uncle Donald, I will never forget you.  
John Charles Moyer  February 2015

Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park

Donald Moyer

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Donald W Moyer

4 mayo, 1924 – 27 enero, 2015

Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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Donald W Moyer

4 mayo, 1924 – 27 enero, 2015

Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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