Donald Charles Hanson, passed away on 24 October, 2010, following a sudden illness. He was born Oct. 15, 1932, to John and Edna in Eau Claire, WI. He graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1950 and attended Wisconsin State College-Eau Claire for two years before being appointed to the Naval Academy.

Don graduated as a member of the class of '56, was commissioned as an Ensign, and went to Pensacola for flight training. After receiving his wings in 1958, he reported to his first duty station with VP-2 at Whidbey Island, WA. Other duty stations included post-graduate school in Monterey, VX-1 in Key West, the USS Wasp out of Boston, back to Whidbey with VP-1, then to Washington, D.C.'s Department of Naval Research. Don retired as a Commander after 22 years. He returned to the Seattle area and worked 15 years for Boeing designing aircraft flight control panels.

In 1995, Don and his wife Fay returned to Whidbey where they enjoyed helping with Habitat for Humanity and singing in the Morning Glory Choir at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. In 2006, Don spearheaded the establishment of the Whidbey Patrol Squadron Memorial at Veteran's Memorial Park. Don could often be found drinking coffee and breakfasting with the Old Fogies, the Geezers, and members of his church family.

Don is survived by his wife of 54 years, daughters Laura (Dan), Sara (John), Julie (Paul), and Karen (Jeff); grandchildren Breanna, Ben, Kiera, Sophia, Lucas, Joanna, Ainsley, Owen, and Avery; and sister Joyce. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dick, and grandson Erik. In lieu of flowers, Don requested that donations be made to the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church Seminarian Fund. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 NW 2nd Ave., Oak Harbor, WA, 98277.