Donald Fred Moore

Donald Fred Moore passed away on May 14, 2019 at Charleston, SC. Don was born on July 5, 1921 in Beloit, WI. He grew up on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin but the family lost the farm in the Great Depression. His father died when Don was only 12 years old. Growing up during the Depression taught him solid values and a healthy dose of common sense. Other than homes, he never financed anything in his life.

Following High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the beginning of WWII and was singled out in his large class at Basic Training to attend Officer Candidate School. After the war, Don transitioned into the Air Force where he served in numerous assignments throughout his career which included the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon as well as overseas in Misawa, Japan and Wiesbaden, Germany. Unfortunately during this time his wife Patricia (nee Ryan) died in an auto accident and he was faced with raising four children, one whom was only eight months old.

Don stayed in the Air Force and without a college degree or pilot's wings, made full Colonel before the age of 40. Ironically, he took up flying after retirement from the Air Force eventually owning a couple of Cessna airplanes. Upon retirement Don became one of the top officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington D.C. and testified before Congress on multiple occasions. After a second retirement he became a very successful realtor, eventually settling in Stowe, VT.

Largely self taught, Don developed an impressive set of skills over the years. He was an accomplished mechanic, computer specialist and built three homes for his family, one in Front Royal, VA, and two in Stowe, VT.

He and his second wife Mary Ellis ultimately settled on John’s Island in Charleston, SC. They traveled the world extensively and ventured out of the country more than thirty times. In 1999, suffering a stroke while playing golf prompted Don and Mary to move into Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community on James Island where he often provided computer technology assistance to the other residents.

Don passed away just a few weeks short of his 98th birthday. He was the best role model his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren could ever have hoped for. His two sons and two daughters will always be grateful that he introduced them to alpine and water skiing, skydiving, flying, golf, home building, and inspired them to travel as much as possible. The world lost an extraordinary man.

Don Moore is predeceased by his wives, Patricia Ryan Moore and Mary Ellis Moore. He is survived by the children of his first marriage: Two sons, Patrick and his wife Penny of Ludlow, VT and Michael and his wife Elisabeth of Breckenridge, CO, two daughters, Jan Haslam of Nashville, TN and Kathleen Sawyer of Stowe, VT, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and his sister Marge Miller of San Antonio, TX.

Private interment services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Colonel Donald Moore’s name to the Resident Assistance Fund, Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community, One Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412.