Name: Visitation for Donald C. Fightmaster
Start: 2020-02-23T20:00:00.000Z
End: 2020-02-24T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home - East Louisville

Donald (Don) C. Fightmaster

LOUISVILLE - Donald (Don) C. Fightmaster, 87, passed away February 20, 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer's

Don was born in Louisville, KY on June 13, 1932, to the late V.C. (Jud) and Amanda Stone Fightmaster. He was a graduate from Male High School, received his Bachelor degree from the University of Louisville and a Masters degree from Indiana University. He served in the U.S. Air Force where he lost his left arm in Germany from a jeep accident.

He was the International One-Armed Golf Tournament champion twice, the National One-Armed Golf Tournament champion seven times and in 1992, won the International Senior One Arm Tournament in Scotland.

Don was one of the founders of the North American One-Arm Golfer Association (NAOAGA). In 2008, The Fightmaster Cup was started. It is a trademarked international competition between the best players from the NAOAGA and the United Kingdom's Society of One-Armed Golfers. The competition is played in a Ryder Cup-style international format every two years just before the Ryder Cup.

He has won many other golf tournaments and is a member of the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame, the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame, Male High School Hall of Fame, and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. But the accomplishment he is most proud of is the Don Fightmaster Foundation for Exceptional Children, which was founded in 1979. The foundation involved and benefited local children with special needs.

He is preceded in death by his parents, V.C. and Amanda Stone Fightmaster; brother, Walter J. Fightmaster; sister-in-law, Sue Tabler Fightmaster; grandson, Dennis Holland; and granddaughter, Tara Smith Elzy.

Cherishing his memory is his wife of 29 years Barkley Beard Fightmaster; son, Walter C. Fightmaster (Kris); daughters, Donna Linker (Bill) and Debra Fightmaster (Greg Belviy); step-daughters, Leah Noe Magers (Ray) and Lori Noe Mohr (Ken); 6 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members.

Visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday February 23, 2020 at Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home 12900 Shelbyville Rd. East Louisville. Funeral Services will be at 12:00 p.m. Monday February 24, 2020 at the funeral home with burial to follow at Cave Hill Cemetery.

The family request that expressions of sympathy can be made to: NAOAGA The Fightmaster Cup 8406 Cloverport Dr. Louisville, KY 40228 or Don Fightmaster Golf Outing for Exceptional Children KPGA 1116 Elmore Just Drive Louisville, KY 40245

RattermanBrothers.com

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Published by Courier-Journal from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Fightmaster

Sponsored by The Courier-Journal.

16 Entries

Bill Irvin

February 14, 2024

A good guy and a fellow airman.

Mark Simmons

February 29, 2020

Lefty was a man's man...a Gentleman...and a HERO. God Bless and keep you. "FORE! in Heaven. Stand down soldier your duty is done.

LILLIAN Hess

February 25, 2020

Barkley, Lefty was the best!!! Will miss him.
He will be in my prayers. He is very genuine,
and always in my heart. He is catching the
big fish in the sky. Love you. Lil

Manly Students and LMHS Class of 1964 Grads

February 25, 2020

1964 Male High School Graduates remember Mr. Fightmaster from Manly Jr. High. Here are a few memories:

Rudy -- "I played many rounds of golf with Don at Shawnee and River Rd. Great person in so many ways. Amazing is the best word for sure."

David -- "Wow...didn't know Mr. Fightmaster went to Male! He was a lot of fun in gym class at Manly. Great sense of humor and tough when he needed to be. (Alvin and I were goofing around once when we should have been paying attention. Mr. Fightmaster gave us the opportunity to swat each other with his paddle....ouch!"

Glenn -- "I'll always remember Mr. Fightmaster and John fighting (with words) when we were in the ninth grade at dear ol' Manly. After we were in high school, I had occasion to meet and talk with Mr. Fightmaster on several occasions and he'd always say, 'I used to coach this kid.' I'd have to remind him we didn't have a team, but after this happened two or three times, I gave up and agreed with him. All in all, a remarkable life for a tough as nails but good man."

Pam -- "I don't remember him, but he has an obit that I won't soon forget."

Mike McMahon

February 23, 2020

My lame back won't allow me to attend the wake or funeral for Don. We spent a lot of time together in the 60s and 70s. He was a great friend and fierce competitor. He shot a closing 78 that made us the winners of the 1969 member-guest at Hurstbourne. It was my privilege to know him.

a loved one

Sent Flowers

Pure Opulence Luxury Bouquet - VASE INCLUDED

John Barton

Sent Flowers

Joyce Rogers

February 22, 2020

Remember Don Fightmaster from school, Don your name will not ever be forgotten,for all the good that you have done. R.I.P.

Bill Irvin

February 22, 2020

I was a counselor with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation when Don was the commissioner. I did an audit of the various VR offices across the state with Don. He was always fair and friendly to me, and a fellow Air Force vet.

Bill Irvin

Linda Crowl

February 21, 2020

Donna, Debra and Walt -- so sorry to hear about your Dad. My memory of him and Barkley was a very pleasant afternoon spent at Donna's at a chili cookoff! I enjoyed my time with them. Love you all.

Eternal Friendship Remembrance Bouquet - VASE INCLUDED

Pamela Simione

Sent Flowers

DeLynn Stallings

February 21, 2020

I was very sad to hear that Lefty had passed. So many fun times were shared with Barkley and Lefty that I will forever remember. Rest In Peace dear friend!

February 21, 2020

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

Lou Newnan-Chapman

February 21, 2020

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

J. Bruce Miller

February 21, 2020

It is with great sadness to learn this morning that Don has left us. "Lefty" as his friends knew him, was one of the most remarkable people I have ever known in my 79 years. To become a one-armed golfer is remarkable in and of itself, but to be a multi-time national handicap golf champion as well as an international champion made Lefty an inspiration for everyone he ever met and knew. The sheer strength of his determination to overcome his handicap by turning it into an 'asset' was literally 'breath-taking.'

All this coupled with his wit, enjoyment of life, personal pride and daily determination to bravely challenge his handicap in life was utterly and completely remarkable.

It was indeed an honor to have been given the opportunity to know Don and to have observed his limitless ability to be a 'happy warrior' in life by succeeding with unlimited enthusiasm.

Rest in Peace my friend -- you have left quite a 'mark' on our World and your thousands of admirers and friends. For those of you who never had the opportunity to meet or know Don "Lefty" Fightmaster -- you've really missed something very special.