Don was raised in Plevna, Kansas where he attended Plevna High School, graduating in 1959. He attended Sterling College for two years and completed his education at Central Technical Institute with a degree in electrical engineering. He married Holly Collard on December 28, 1963, in Santa Ana, California. They had three children and lived the last 40 years of their life together in Arlington, Texas.
Don worked as an engineer for over 40 years on various projects. Some of his most challenging and rewarding work was with police departments. The patent for the radar gun used today bears Don’s name, and he worked for several years with the Los Angeles PD installing the first computer systems in patrol cars. That system is still used today. The latter part of his career was spent working with the postal service on their automatic mail sorters. Don remained with E-Systems for 30 years, through several name changes, finally retiring from Siemens to begin his second career as grandpa to Abigail and later, Trenten.
Don loved to garden, read, work jigsaw puzzles, attend and watch just about any type of sporting event, travel, cruise, and cook Saturday morning breakfast for his family. His greatest joy was caring for his grandchildren and watching them grow. His happiest times were spent designing and building projects in his woodshop. His family and friends benefited from his expertise and generosity. He was always willing to lend a hand, or a tool, to help. Throughout his retirement he volunteered at many places from his church, Advent Lutheran, where he was a long-time member, to his children’s schools, and at the Arlington Life Shelter. If you needed something built, or a problem solved, Don was the man to see.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Holly, his children Kim Geist of Arlington, Teresa and Bobby Thigpen of Arlington, Scott Geist of Frisco; his grandchildren Abigail and Trenten; his siblings Mary Lou Comley of Sterling, KS., Margaret Miller (Joe) of El Cajon, CA., Tom Geist (Jackie) of Plevna, KS., and Richard (Jean) Geist of Plevna, KS., his brothers-in-law Ron Cowan of Anchorage, AK., and Gene Robb (Delores) of Superior, NE., and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Elizabeth, his sister Ruth Robb and his brothers-in-law Vern Comley and Sneed Collard.
Memorial service to be held May, 19, 2019, at 4:00 PM at Advent Lutheran Church, 3232 S. Cooper St., Arlington, Texas, 76015, with Pastor Joel Burkholder officiating.
The family request, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Arlington Life Shelter or the American Heart Association.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18