William Donald Salter

A life worth celebrating. A legacy worth honoring.
William Donald Salter passed away on Sunday August 20th, 2023, at the age of 76 in Pace, Florida, Santa Rosa County. A place he was committed to leaving better than he found it and making it a better place for the future of everyone.
How do you sum up a lifetime of accomplishments and memories in a few short paragraphs for a man like Don Salter? It's impossible. Don's greatest accomplishments and memories were marrying the love of his life (Kaye), raising a son (Donnie), becoming a father-in-law to (Mandy) and becoming a larger-than-life grandfather (G.G.) to Ethan and Evelyn.
Don and Kaye met in 1964 at the age of 17 and 18 while cruising their cars in downtown Pensacola, Florida on old Gregory Street. They got engaged in 1965 and that same year, Don left until 1968 serving stateside with the 101st Airborne and in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a combat platoon sergeant where he was awarded the bronze star medal. Don's two older brothers joined the Marine Corps, with one of them being killed in action in Vietnam. Salter and his remaining two brothers each became U.S. Army paratroopers.
Don and Kaye wrote letters back and forth from 9,000 miles away during his time at war proving they could get through anything. They got married on June 20th, 1970, and just recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary together as a family. Family time was always important to Don, but he loved spending time with his grandkids most of all.
Don was born Jan 12th, 1947, in Jay, Florida and graduated from Tate High School in 1965. He graduated from Troy State University while working at Gulf Power receiving a Master of Science degree in Management.
Don enjoyed his final years of retirement after dedicating much of it to 32 years with Gulf Power Company (1968-2000) and 20 years as a Santa Rosa County Commissioner (2000-2020). For over 20 years he was involved in so many community organizations and was often most proud of being the founder of the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Plaza in Milton, Florida. But his last great legacy and accomplishments were being inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame in 2021 and the unveiling of Don Salter Boulevard in 2022 which leads into Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Milton, Florida which he worked tirelessly to protect from closing for so many years.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Belle and Cuyler Salter; brothers, Staff Sgt. Jimmie L. Brooks (KIA, Vietnam), Neilson Salter, Clifton Salter and Walter Brooks.
He is survived by his wife, Kaye; son, Donnie; daughter-in-law, Mandy; grandchildren, Ethan and Evelyn; sister, Carolyn; and so many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday September 1, 2023, at Pace Assembly of God Church, 3948 US-90 Pace, Florida 32571, with visitation held on Thursday August 31, 2023, at Pace Assembly of God Church, from 6:00-8:00pm and service Friday at 10:30am. Interment will immediately follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Due to time constraints during Mr. Salter's Celebration of Life service, your memories and words of encouragement can be shared with the family on Mr. Salter's Tribute Wall on the Lewis Funeral Home website.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Plaza, 5191 Willing Street, Milton, FL 32570.
email: vetmemorial@santarosa.fl.gov
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