Donald Judson Piper, age 94, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2021 after long term duration with dementia. He was born February 3, 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa, the only child of Judson Edson Piper and Ruth Frances (Davis) Piper.
Don, as most called him, was a World War II veteran, back when the Air Force was part of the Army. He served his country honorably from 1945 to 1948, attended college for a year, then went on to live a quiet civilian life settling in Oklahoma City for a time and later relocating to Wichita.
He married Patsy Broderick, and with her, they had a son, Donald Judson Piper, Jr. Sadly, Donald Jr. would pass away at the age of 16 from Muscular Dystrophy, and he and Patsy would divorce.
In 1966, he and Margaret Wolfe would marry, and he remained at her side for 31 years until her death from emphysema in 1998. One of his favorite past times was gardening. Their home property was filled with productive fruit trees, flowering shrubs, and a garden spot for onions, tomatoes, and the like.
While he never had any other children, he was blessed with two bonus daughters when he met and married Virginia Diane Dean. Don and Virginia married in May of 1998, and remained happy together for 11 years until her death in 2009 from natural causes. They looked after grand children and a great-grand daughter, shared crossword puzzle clues, attending Sear's Retiree luncheons, and local venue outings
Don was an even tempered and rather shy man who led a modest life and lovingly cared for two wives in their declining health. In his later years, his step-daughter Diane would free heartedly care for him until his own death.
Don had several jobs after he left the service; one of them was working in a bakery where he learned to bake lovely bread. He enjoyed the most success and made a good living as a Home Improvement Sales Representative for Sears, a job he was happy doing for many years until his retirement.
Playing the piano by ear was his special talent. He had a list of song titles and could play each and every one without sheet music. His hero, so to speak, was former President Ronald Reagan. While on a trip visiting Bentonville, AR, he wrapped his arm around the bronze statue of the President located on a corner of an intersection in the downtown section of the city, and had his picture snapped. While on a trip visiting St. Louis, he showcased his bright red St. Louis Cardinals ball cap - being a dedicated fan.
Having purpose is important in life. In his retirement years, he was a member of West Heights Methodist Church, attending regularly. He also could be found donating volunteer hours to The Active Aging (publication), Senior's RSVP Program, and Harry Hynes Hospice. The importance of volunteering cannot be understated. In fact, Donald would receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award for five years, donating countless hours from June of 2010 to August of 2014.
Donald is preceded in death by his wives, and son Donald Piper, Jr. He is survived by step-daughters Diane Dean and Deborah Long, both living in Wichita.
Private services will be held March 3, and Don's body will be interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, alongside his beloved wife Virginia.
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