Don and I both joined the Agronomy Department in 1965 and we kind of grew up together over the many years we spent together in the Department. Over those years we became faculty brothers. For many years we had our offices in the basement of Tyson Building. Some of my fondest memories as a young faculty member were of all the fun times that we shared together. What a fun guy!!! Don was also highly respected by his faculty peers and of course was held in high regard by all his undergraduate and graduate students. Don coordinated the installation of our lawn at our home. Whenever I look out over our lawn, I think of Don. Fortunately, Mary and I shared many great times with Caroline and Don. This photo was taken at Tijuana Tilley’s. We drove a rental car into Tijuana and had a wonderful dinner together. We will never forget all the many bridge games that we played together over the years in our Agronomy Bridge Group. My last memory of Don was when I was his bridge partner at the Ramada Inn. What fond memories of all the great times that Mary and I spent with Don and Caroline. Very sad that they are both gone. Thank goodness for all the memories that live on.

All the Best to his family and other close friends.

Gary Petersen

Professor Emeritus, Penn State

Here at the Wicker house, he was known as “Uncle Don.” His razor-sharp wit could, (and did often) with only 6 to 8 of his softly delivered words, render us helpless due to uncontrollable laughter. We still remember how Mom and Aunt Caroline’s giggles seemed never ending.

In 1987, Uncle Don visited our just completed N.C house lacking of any landscaping and quipped: “Never saw a ragweed lawn before.” (We still laugh at that one today). A few weeks after that visit, he sent a letter with instructions for getting grass established. His letter made it clear that “Step 1” was, in no uncertain terms, to kill the weeds.

On one visit, Aunt Caroline saw an old-fashioned photo that Pattie and I had taken and she convinced Uncle Don to have one taken as well. It was a night of laughs and a 40-year memory that is near and dear to our hearts; even Uncle Don mentioning it during every phone call.

Mary, Jim, Lauretta, Kathy, David, and Doug our hearts are heavy today. We are thinking of you all at this time. But please know that every time we think of Uncle Don, we either smile or chuckle. That speaks to his character and the impression he made on us.

John & Pattie