Donald Newton Aalders

Donald Newton Aalders, 91, was born in Everett, Massachusetts to Marguerite Alice Aalders (nee Goudey) and Walter Richmond Aalders, both from Nova Scotia, Canada. Don spent most summers in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia but lived and grew up in Malden, Massachusetts.
After high school, he enlisted in the Navy where he became the ship's machinist on the USS Dickson Naval ship. He tells many wonderful stories of making special keepsake type implements for the officers onboard. After four years of service, he was honorably discharged. While in the Navy he met the love of his life, our mother, Anne Marie Mohler in Salisbury, MD on a blind date. He often retold the story of her gazing down at him from a second story building on Main Street to "check out" the young sailor in his uniform before she went through with the blind date. Shortly after marrying, he left the Navy and began working for General Electric in Philadelphia, PA. Eager to learn and leave the city, he was chosen for a service repairman position with the National Cash Register Co (now NCR). He excelled in their rigorous and challenging training program, and was proud of his success in the difficult weekly "pass or go home" exams. Upon completion of training, he and Anne moved to Salisbury and began raising their family. He promoted within NCR and was transferred to Dover, Delaware. His career carried him throughout the entire Delmarva Eastern shore, repairing old and newer cash registers. He was proud to have served with integrity and honesty, and established a long list of loyal customers. He kept pace with advancing technology, as noted when he presented the first automated teller machine (ATM) at the Delaware State Fair.
Dad enjoyed boating and sailing. Weekends and vacations were spent on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. He was an active member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, taught Basic Boating classes and held several leadership positions within his local flotilla. After a long and successful career with NCR, he retired. He and mom eventually moved to their summer vacation home in Bivalve MD. He loved his river home with a passion, having enjoyed a lifetime of boating and water sports there. During his retirement he developed a love for training waterfowl hunting dogs. He took many dogs through their Junior and Senior Hunter titles with three dogs earning Master Hunter titles. He was especially proud of his beloved chocolate labrador retriever Newt II Westside who became a master Hunter on June 21, 2019 thus qualifying for the prestigious Master National Retriever Club finals in Cheraw, SC.
In his later years, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. He belonged to the Crosspoint Church of the Nazarene in Salisbury where he was an active member for many years. He loved presenting challenging and thought-provoking questions, often giving his Bible study classmates some serious and lively discussions. He passed peacefully at Delmar Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Delmar, DE where he was given excellent care. The family would also like to thank Absolute Best Care Home Solutions owner Shanika Sturgis, and caregivers Gina, Dina, Crystal, and Sierra, for the exceptional love and care they provided. Thanks also to Compassionate Care Hospice for their kindness and genuine caring.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife of 60 years. He is survived by his eldest daughter, Donna Aalders Ketcheson of Milton, DE, Kim Aalders Scott (Don) of Lincoln, DE and David Bruce Aalders (Deborah) of Mardela Springs, MD. He is also survived by grandchildren Caitlin Ketcheson Cramer (Brent) and Amy Ketcheson, both in New Mexico, Darren Scott (Alison), Sarah Adams (Ryan), and Emily Greene (Jonathan) in Delaware, Logan Aalders (Charlotte) in Colorado and Dr. Lauren Aalders Hanna (Jon) in Virginia. He also had eleven great grandchildren (Lucas Scott, Ella Scott, Jack Scott, Atlas Ketcheson Bentley, Olivia Aalders, Owen Aalders, Adelyn Adams, Charlotte Adams, Jesse Hanna, Wyatt Hanna, Baylee St. Clair, Fiona Greene, and Michael Greene). Per dad's request, a private service will be held at a later date.
May a great and glorious light emerge and show us all the way. May our eyes look up at an illumined sky and see a sign that means, Have hope And pray, For the Lord has found His way to you now, not later, but now.