Donald William Stockton

Kaysville – Donald W. Stockton passed away September 26, 2023.  Don first saw the light of day on October 7, 1935, in a rented farm house in the community of Beech Bluff, Tennessee, the son of Charles D. Stockton. He was very proud of his Southern heritage and often said he was an American by birth and a Southerner by the Grace of God.

He moved to College Park, Georgia. In 1940 where he graduated from high school in 1953 and then attended the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgis, now Georgia State University, for a year.  In 1954, he took the Air Force up on its offer to join and see the world and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant as an aircraft electrician before receiving his commission in 1964 as a Distinguished Graduate from Officer Training School.  As an officer, Don served in the procurement, Minuteman missile operations and aircraft maintenance field.  The highest level position he held was that of Aircraft Maintenance Inspector in the Headquarters Command Office of the Inspector General at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C.  His overseas assignments were in Germany, Vietnam, and Thailand.  He was in the Honor Graduate in the Aircraft Electrical, Procurement, and Aircraft Maintenance Officer courses.

He retired in 1980  as a Major after more than 25 years of service. His twelve awards and decorations included the Bronze star and the Air Force commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. Don Graduated from Syracuse University (NY) in 1964 and Weber State College (UT) in 1985.  He was on the Dean’s List and in the top 10% of his Class when he graduated from Syracuse and was inducted into the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He was a Cost Accountant at Hill AFB for over five years after receiving his accounting degree from WSC, going from a GS-5 entry level accountant to a GS-11 lead accountant in 37 months.

He married Alice Gifford in Jerome, Idaho in 1956 and they were later divorced.  Don married his Mexican Beauty Rose on January 5, 1974, in Las Vegas Nevada.  She passed away on July 20, 2011, after more than 37 years of marriage.

He travelled extensively both in and out of service visiting all 50 states and 38 foreign countries on every continent except Antarctica.  His travels took him North to Alaska above the Artic Circle, south to Australia Downunder, west to The Bridge on the River Kwai in Thailand, east to The Blue Danube in Budapest, Hungary and to Luckenbach, Texas in between. .  Don completed his las solo cross-country driving trip at age 80.  He made friends around the world by sharing his love of traditional country music, once called hillbilly music, on the internet.  Although not a pilot he flew on 48 different types of aircraft, six of which were piloted by his son Mark.  Vintage aircraft on which he flew included the Ford Tri-Motor from the 1920’s and B-17, B-24, B-25, C47 and P-51 Mustang from the World War II era.  He and Donna enjoyed camping and fishing until their fishing buddy grew up and started flying airplanes.

He is survived by his children; Tony (Tanya) Vigil, Ogden, UT; Steve (Danny) Stockton, Phoenix, AZ; Teresa (Tom) Boney, Farr West, UT; Mark (Kerry) Stockton, Clayton, NC; Ann (Byron) Richey, Nampa, ID; Lynn (Kelly) Nebeker, Dietrich, ID; Owen (Linda) Stockton, Colorado Springs, CO; 21 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren plus several great-great grandchildren and so many others to whom he was a grandfather-figure. 

Don was preceded in death by his wife Donna, his father, his beloved grandson TJ Boney, granddaughter Shanel Hicks and great-granddaughter Anaiya Boney.  He was also (preceded in death) by his high school sweetheart, Katherine McWilliams, St. Petersburg, FL.  They renewed their friendship after both were widowed and enjoyed each other’s company again in the twilight years of their lives.

Don held a very special place in his heart for Vanessa Valdez and her two daughters Esella and Savanna who loved him very much!

Funeral services will be held Saturday September 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main Street, Kaysville, Utah. Friends may visit with family Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary prior to the service.

Interment will be held at the Kaysville City Cemetery, Kaysville, Utah where military honors will be accorded.

Don was facing some serious health problems if not caused by at least accelerated by his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.  He chose to go on his own terms rather than face a long debilitating illness.

A Special Thank You to all the staff at Harrison Pointe Nursing Facility in Ogden.