Donald Shelby Grigsby

Services are scheduled for Monday, October 18th at 1:00pm in the Chapel of Hampton Vaughn with Rex Donley officiating. Internment will follow in the Burkburnett Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 17th from 6pm – 8pm. Serving as honorary pallbearers are brother in-law, Max Donley, and nephews Tommy Loyd, Larry Donley, Terry Knight, Terry Cauthen, and Maurice Lynch.

Don was born on March 23, 1931 in Cordia, KY to Shelby and Lula (Hale) Grigsby. As a young man, he left the familiar hills of Kentucky to see the world in the Air Force.

When Don was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, he met the love of his life, Betty Donley. They met at the P-3 Drive In where she worked as a car hop. Don and Betty were married on July 18, 1956 and they spent the next twenty-one years traveling the country. Much of Don’s life in the Air Force was spent as a boom operator. He served his country for twenty-six years, including combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, prior to retiring at Altus Air Force Base.

Don and Betty moved to Burkburnett in 1978 after his retirement from the Air Force. His first project was a complete renovation of their residence. He worked at the Sheppard AFB Motor Pool before entering full retirement. He loved fishing and was good at it. He found fishing holes near every base he was stationed at, but his favorite fishing spot was with his son in-law, Russ, on the boat at Waurika Lake. He remained lifelong friends with many he met in the Air Force. He was involved with the In-Flight Refuelers (IFR) and Altus Boom Operators Associations and looked forward to their meetings across the country. He spent many a Friday night playing dominoes or cards with friends and family. He kept a garden for many years and loved to keep friends, family, and neighbors with a plentiful supply of fresh tomatoes and peaches.

Don is survived by daughter Terry Thompson and Russ of Edmond, OK and granddaughter Jenny Thompson of Edmond, OK. He is also survived by brothers Cecil Grigsby and wife Joyce and family of Green Forks, IN and John Grigsby and wife Janice and family of Greenback, TN. His surviving sisters are Mary Lou Jordan of Pearl, MS and family and Betty Sue Vanover of Deane, KY and family. He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty, his parents, Lula and Shelby Grigsby of Hazard, KY, his sister Doris Napier and brother Charles Grigsby. Don also leaves behind wonderful in-laws, special nieces and nephews, and some of the best neighbors in the world and he will be missed.

Don was a cancer survivor and memorial donations to the Susan G Komen Foundation can be made if you wish at www.komen.org.

Please share your tributes and fond memories by leaving both written and spoken guest book messages at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com.