Donald Mathers

Lt. Col. Donald Eugene Mathers (Ret.) Lt. Col. Donald Eugene Mathers (Ret.), 82, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2014. He was born January 17, 1932, in Gardner, Kansas, the son of Carlos and Elba (Dunn) Mathers. He was a 1950 graduate of Topeka High and 1954 graduate of Washburn University with a BA in Business. Don served with the U.S. Air Force in SAC for 24 years as a navigator, flying KC97 s, KC135 s and the SR71. He was later employed by Josten's Publishing in Topeka as a yearbook salesman from 1980-1996. Don married Rebecca I. Mathers on December 26, 1954 in Topeka, KS. She survives. Other survivors include sons, Bret E. (Kelley) Mathers of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Brian D. Mathers of Topeka; daughter, Barrie L. (Gregory) Judge of Urbandale, Iowa; sister, Mary Vaughn of Topeka; and grandchildren, Grant Mathers of Longmont, Colorado, Isabella and Emma Judge of Urbandale, Iowa; and great-grandchildren, Lance and Alexis Mathers of Longmont, Colorado. Memorial ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2014, at Mount Hope Mausoleum Chapel, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66604. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital Travel Fund, c/o Arab Shrine, 1305 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66612 or Helping Hands Humane Society, 5720 SW 21st Street, Topeka, Kansas 66604. To leave a message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. Lt. Col. Donald Eugene Mathers (Ret.)