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May 5, 1941 - April 11, 2009
Donald George Cavanaugh of Williamsburg, Va., died April 11, 2009, of colon cancer after a seven-year battle. Born at St. Francis Hospital, Waterloo, May 5, 1941. He was the son of George and Magdelena "Lena" Lellig Cavanaugh. Raised on a farm east of Reinbeck. Graduated from West High School, Waterloo.
First employed by Brown Lumber Co., Raymond. In April 1961 joined the U.S. Air Force. Training tours of duty at Lackland and Amerillo Air Force bases in Texas. Upon completion of training, was reassigned to Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., and in 1962 was reassigned to Andrew Air Force Base, Maryland. In 1963 was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon for four years. In 1967 was reassigned to Headquarters Pacific Air Force in Hawaii for three years. In 1970 was reassigned back to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., for four years. April 6, 1974, was married to Joyce Carol Spicer Cavanaugh at Fort Myer Post Chapel, Arlington, Va. In 1974 was reassigned to King Salmon Airport, Alaska. In 1975 was reassigned back to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., for six years. May 1, 1981, retired from the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon. In 1981 went to work for Gibbs & Cox Inc., Washington Division located in Arlington. Gibbs & Cox is a world-renowned navel architect and Marine engineer company in the design of large ships. Retired from Gibbs & Cox in 2006 after 25 years of service.
Survivors include wife Joyce of Williamsburg; one daughter, Jennifer living at Ashburn, Va.; one brother, Kenneth Cavanaugh of Waterloo; and four sisters, Marvene Niedermann and Margret Lockhart of Reinbeck, Marlys Miller of Cedar Falls and Betty Hansen of Sunnyvale, Calif. Viewing will take place at Nelsen's Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg, on Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral Mass will take place Friday, April 17, at St. Bede's Catholic Church, Williamsburg. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, with full military honors (date is TBD). In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either Hospice or the American Cancer Society. |