Donald Putman

Donald Putman

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL

Donald "Don" W. Putman, 80, passed away Friday, September, 8, 2017, in Zephyrhills, Florida.

Don was born in Abilene and raised in and around the smaller towns of Taylor County.

Don started school at Potosi and lived one mile south of the family farm; he then went to Trent, back to Abilene, to Lubbock, and then on to Artesia, New Mexico before returning to Abilene.

Don joined the United States Navy in 1954 and served on the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown. He returned to Abilene after his first four years in the Navy and became a Union Electrician.

In 1963, Don married Ethel Marie Ford from Merkel and re-joined the Navy Seabees as an Electrician. During 30 years of service, he worked up through all the enlisted ranks and became a top Chief Warrant Officer where he held numerous positions including: Public Works Officer, School Teacher, School Administrator, and Nuclear Power Plant Supervisor. Don retired in 1987 as the Engineer of the Navy "Old Sailors Home" in Gulfport, Mississippi: A 2,520-bed facility that was just a "Little City" within itself.

Don joined the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Construction and Facilities Management in 1987 as a Resident Engineer. He worked on many projects that built new and renovated existing healthcare facilities for the Veterans Health Administration and cemetery facilities for the National Cemetery Service. After 13 years of service, he retired in 2000.

He always said: "If God put a Gold Star on a report card, it will be for the positive impact I had on so many young lives."

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ethel Putman of Zephyrhills, FL; son, Hobbs Putman and wife Sherry and grandchildren, Shawn Lilly, Garrett, and Kayleigh of Zephyrhills, FL; son, Corbet Putman and grandchildren, Don and Tess of Salisbury, NC; and former daughter-in-law, Beth Holt of NC.

Don was preceded in death by twin infant sons, Leslie Everett and Oran Dempsey; brother, Jerry Putman; sister, Shara Jackson; and parents, Oran and Cleo Putman.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00AM on Friday, September 22, 2017, at Potosi Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00PM to 7:00PM Thursday, September 21, 2017, at Starbuck Funeral Home, Merkel, Texas.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude's Hospital or to Shriners Hospital for Children. Services are under the direction of Starbuck Funeral Home, Merkel, Texas.