DONALD LEROY GARRETT

GARRETT, DONALD LEROY Donald Leroy Garrett passed away March 10, 2012 in La Mesa, California. He joined his beloved wife Clara Mae who passed away December 23, 1996. They would have celebrated their 72nd anniversary on March 2, 2012. The fourth oldest of three sisters and one brother, he was born October 24, 1917 in Franklin, Nebraska. He graduated high school in Franklin County's one room school house in 1934 and moved to San Diego, CA. Don was a jack-of-all-trades. He was in construction (he built his family's home of 53 years), a lumbeIjack, a miner, a crop duster, an expert at aerobatic flight and CEO of a retirement home in Lemon Grove where he retired in 1978. Don joined the Army Air Corps as a flight instructor at the beginning of World War II and trained pilot cadets how to fly at Thunderbird Field in Glendale, Arizona until the end of the war. Flying was his passion. Over many years, Don and Mae along with his two siblings, sister, Isabelle McCrae, who was a Women's Airforce Service Pilot (WASP), and his brother, Brig. Gen. Wayne Garrett, MD, and their spouses, routinely flew around different parts of the United States for fun in their Piper Comanche. He held his pilot's license at the time of his passing. His mild demeanor and easy going personality made him a favorite of all who knew him. Don is survived by one brother, Wayne (Cee); daughter Donna and sons, Don Jr. (Jay) and Dennis (Robin); grandsons Steve (Denise) and Miles; granddaughters Poppy (Alex) and Chloe; three great-grandchildren, Shane, Chloe and Shelby and many loving nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Greenwood Mortuary on Monday March 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. with Viewing at 9:00 a.m.