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Donald Cawthon Obituary
passed away on June 12, 2025. Born in Macon Missouri in 1931, he moved to Tampa with his family as a child. Don grew up in Seminole Heights and graduated from Hillsborough High School, class of 1949. It was in high school that he met his future wife, Dolores Bell. Don graduated from the University of Florida in 1954 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Immediately after graduation, Don and Dolores married and moved to Ft. Eustis, Virginia where Don served in the Army. After leaving the Army, Don and Dolores moved to Massachusetts where Don worked in research with General Electric Company and earned a Master's Degree in Engineering Management from Northeastern University. In 1961, Don and Dolores moved back to Florida, and Don took a job with Martin Marietta in Orlando, working primarily on projects with NASA. In 1975, Don, Dolores and Michael, their son, returned home to Tampa where Don took over the family business, Cawthon Oil Company.
In 1989, Don and Dolores built a home in Maggie Valley, North Carolina where they spent every summer until 2024. It was Don's happy place, and he and Dolores eagerly welcomed family and friends as regular visitors. Don had many hobbies and interests over his 93 years. He loved to sail and owned several sailboats; he loved to fly and owned his own plane; he loved to restore John Deere tractors and acquired so many he was forced to build a barn to house them all. He loved music and sang in the choir at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, DRoy Cawthon and Sylvia Price Cawthon. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dolores Bell Cawthon; son, Michael Cawthon (Carolyn) of Jacksonville Florida; three grandchildren, Michael Maitland Cawthon; Donald Hyatt Cawthon (Haley); Jaqueline Cawthon Morgan (Dustin); two great-grandchildren, Denver Morgan and Dolores Morgan; sister, Judge Susan Bucklew; niece, Whitney Bucklew (Jay) and numerous other beloved family members.
A funeral service will take place at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church on July 6, 2025, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.
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