Donald Ralph Strobaugh

He was born December 13, 1929 in Altoona, Pennsylvania to Rhea and Ralph Strobaugh. He was awarded a musical scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania in

1945 and graduated in 1947. He enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Private in 1948, serving more than 28 years, including the Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles), Congo Rescue (Operation Dragon Rouge), Israeli Airlift (Operation Nickel Grass), and 2 combat tours in Vietnam and retired as a Colonel in 1976. He completed airborne training in 1955, became one of the pioneers of military freefall parachuting in 1957 and served for 17 years as an Air Force Combat Control Team Leader (Parachutist). His 55 military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Airman’s Medal, Air Medal, 3 Purple Hearts, Vietnamese Honor Medal, Air Service Medal and Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Korean Order of Military Merit and Korean Commendation Medal.

He was a Past President and Life Member of the Dons of Arizona; a Life Member and past Adjutant/Finance Officer of Chapter 686, Military Order of the Purple Heart; a Life Member of the Combat Control Association; a Founding Member of The American Air Museum in Britain; a volunteer driver with the American Red Cross Home-delivered Meals program for 20 years; and a volunteer USA Today reader with Sun Sounds Radio Reading Service for visually-impaired listeners.

For many years, he was an active racquetball player and parachutist and collected worldwide military parachutist wings. He enjoyed parachuting and continued to jump out of perfectly

good airplanes for a total of 44 years, making more than 3300 jumps from 65 types of aircraft in 38 countries. He made his last parachute jump at the age of 70.

He married Suzanne C. Holland and together they shared the joys of an ever-increasing family.

He is survived by his children Rick Strobaugh, Connie Grady, Kathy Rhea, Donald Strobaugh Jr., Carol Wimmer, step-daughter Shelia Collins and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on October 10, 2026, at 11:00 am at Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services – Melcher Roses, Mesa. Interment to follow at 2:00pm Mesa Cemetery