Donald Emerson Iloff

1931 - 2025

Donald Emerson Iloff
09/18/1931 - 10/10/2025
On October 10, 2025, Donald Emerson Iloff (age 94) passed away peacefully at his home in the Woodlands, Texas. He was a dedicated and devoted husband and father who was loved dearly by his family. He now and forever rests in the arms of his loving savior.
Donald was born on September 18, 1931, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, the second child and first son of Emerson and Ruth (Comino) Iloff. He graduated from Mansfield State College (PA) with a degree in Mathematics and served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. In 1955, he married Georgine (Blalock) Iloff and began his life-long career as an Aerospace Engineer. In 1959, he took a position with General Electric in Huntsville, Alabama joining German rocket scientist Werner Von Braun's Saturn Rocket project team located at Marshall Space Flight Center / Redstone Arsenal. In 1963, he moved with his wife, Georgine, and their children to Houston, Texas where he took a position with NASA to work on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. In 1999, He married Virginia (Farat) Iloff, a devoted wife who lovingly cared for him in his last years.
Donald was a faithful believer and follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church of Christ where he served as a deacon.
He is preceded in death by his brother Gerald and sister Doris. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Iloff, and his sister, Joan Crist, as well as his children, Donald Emerson Iloff, Jr. (his wife, Jackelyn), Victoria Iloff Osteen (her husband Joel), and his grandchildren: Elizabeth and Cristina Iloff and Jonathan (his wife, Sophia) Osteen and Alexandra Osteen. He is lovingly remembered by Virginia's children, Robert Schneider (his wife, Deborah), Ryan Schneider, Rebecca Gibson (her husband, Todd), and grandchildren: First Lt. Stephan Gibson, Jr and Katie Salisbury (her husband, Robert).
He will be greatly missed.