Donald C Kittinger

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Dr. Mary K. Hermann Kittinger; and her children and granddaughters; brother, Paul L. Kittinger (Barbara) of Hillard, OH; niece, Ginger Kittinger and Julie (Nick) Hankar; nephews Andrew and Matthew Trautmann and family of West Grove, PA; brothers-in-law, Dr. Ronald Fox (Carole) of Decorah, IA, Gerald Fox (Lori) of Jeffersonville, IN; nieces, Kelly and Jenny, Kari, Kami, and Kori and their family; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Carol Ann Fox Kittinger; sister, Pat Kittinger Trautmann Ginther, and nephew, David Trautmann.

Don grew up on the North side of Evansville and attended Henry Reis grade school and graduated from the downtown Central High School in 1951. Two years later, he was notified to take his physical for the Army and was drafted in 1953. Don was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in 1955. He enrolled in Evansville College (U of E), took the five-year Mechanical Engineering Program and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1960 and accepted a position with Wright Patterson Air Force (WPAFB) Base in Ohio. In 1977 he completed the MA in Business from Central Michigan University. Don’s career at WPAFB started with the Air Force Logistic Command (AFLC), and after two years he accepted a position with the Air Force System Command in the Aeronautical System Division. The primary project he was associated with was the Air Force Spectrometric Oil Analysis Program (SOAP). He established and monitored test programs and was responsible for the engineering support of the purchase of test equipment. This work resulted in an Air Force wide Oil Analysis Program. When the Army, Air Force, and Navy coordinated their efforts into a Department of Defense (DOD) wide program, Don was one of the experts that worked on their joint efforts. The DOD effort also combined with Oil Analysis of the NATO forces.

Don traveled to many Air Force bases and Army and Navy facilities and made several trips to England and Belgium as a member of the panel of experts on Spectrometric Oil Analysis. After the SOAP program, responsibility was successfully transferred to operation Air Force wide, Don was a staff engineer supporting different weapon systems Project Offices in the area at ground support. He retired in 1988.

Don enjoyed many interests; solar energy, painting, playing and teaching bridge, bowling, U of E Basketball, traveling, and participating in the Senior Games (local and national). He was a member of the International Society of Poets and presented at their meetings. He enjoyed poetry and writing and wrote and published the book “Surviving! One Man’s View of Love, Death, Grief, and?, ” after the death of his first wife.

Due to the pandemic, there will not be a visitation or funeral service at this time.

Condolences may be offered online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.