Donald L. Gregory

Donald Langston Gregory, age 89, of Temple passed away on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at his home in Temple. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from 5-7pm at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, Temple TX. Funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 10am at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, Temple TX. Burial with Full Military Honors to follow Wednesday August 29, 2018 at 1pm at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen TX.

Donald Langston Gregory (Don) was born January 14, 1929 in Great Falls, SC to Benjamin and Janie Mae Gregory.  After living in many different towns in North and South Carolina he joined the Army in Spindale, NC, on December 15, 1945. Upon completion of basic training at Fort Bragg, NC his military career comprised the following assignments:  initially serving as a Tank Destroyer member attached to the 166th Gen. Hospital, France.  Don was then assigned to the 245th Medical Dispensary (Belgium-Holland-Germany) as a medic.  Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS as a Medic.  Don returned to Europe as an Operating Room Technician with the 5th General Hospital, Germany and the 5th Evac. Hospital, Ft. Bragg, NC.  He then served as Unit Advisor to the Mississippi National Guard, Jackson, MS.  Don’s last European assignment was as an Operating Room Technician with the 5th Surgical Hospital Germany until being assigned to Brooke General Hospital, Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX as an Operating Room Technician.  He was then assigned to the 121st Evac. Hospital, Korea until returning to Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, TX where he was First Sergeant of Company A, Medical Field Service School, Ft. Sam Houston.  Don was deployed with Company B, 23rd Med. Bn., Vietnam.  Upon his return to the States, Don served as First Sergeant with Co B., 2d Bn., Academy of Health Sciences, Ft. Sam Houston, the position he held upon retirement. First Sergeant Gregory was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal with nine loops, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Combat Medical Badge. After retirement from the Army, Don joined Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX.  To set up the Operating Room department as the Division Manager in a newly growing Surgical Unit.  Within his next twenty years at Scott & White Hospital, Don set up the Unit Manager system and hired the first Unit Managers for the Facility.  Additionally Don set up the Central Service Department of which he oversaw for ten years of his time at Scott & White Hospital.

Once retired from Scott & White Hospital Don upped his pursuit of his major passions: watching the grandchildren’s sporting events, especially Friday Night Football, Golf and the Temple Founder Lions Club and subsequently the Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville, TX.  Don founded multiple fundraising Golf Tournaments around the area and participated in as many as he could, to support many great charities.  Don would repair golf clubs and donate them to area schools to promote children to learn to love the game.  He was happy to help anyone who was willing to play the game and taught his grandchildren to play.  As for his life in the Temple Founder Lions Club, Don served as the Treasurer in past years, participated in the dance groups and many skits of the Annual Follies Show, founded the Annual Golf Tournament and has been a perfect attendance member of the club since he joined.  Don attended Lion Clubs conventions as a voting delegate and loved to help set up the meeting hall and serve as a Greeter for the Club.

When Don was stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Ms., he met Mollie Teresa Gill and they were married on December 22, 1950.  Don was preceded in Death by his Wife of 61 years on November 7, 2012.  Don is survived by four Children, Donald Langston Gregory Jr. and his wife Ruth of Cedar Park, TX., Wanda Ann Gregory of Temple TX, Christy Marie Gregory of Temple, TX. And Gilbert Paul Gregory and his wife Elizabeth of Troy, TX.  Additionally, Don is survived by five Grandchildren, Mathew Donald Gregory and his wife Monique of Tampa FL, Daniel John Gregory and his wife Mandy of Leander, TX., Justin Allen Gregory of Stephenville, TX., Jordan Quinn Gregory of Austin, TX., and Jarrett Kiah Gregory of Troy, TX.  Don also had one Great Grand Daughter Evelyn Cate Gregory of Leander, TX.

Don was a member of Oak Park United Methodist Church in Temple, the Temple Founder Lions Club for 38 years and was a Master Mason in the Grand Lodge of Meridian, MS for 60 years.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: Robbie Rollins, Johnny Rollins, John Potts, Warren Elliott, Bob Farrell, Marvin Kisely, Joe Kiefer and Bob Ranly.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Texas Lions Camp (Lion Don Gregory) in care of the Temple Founder Lions Club, William Sperling, P.O. Box 544, Temple, TX 76503.