Donald Lear
Donald L. Lear Sr., U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. (ret.),
died July 29 at the Porter Care Hospice Center in
Centennial.
The funeral was Aug. 3, at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet
Chapel, Colorado Springs, with full military honors. Interment was
at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery.
Born Sept. 25, 1923, in Lincoln, Neb., he was the son of
Clarence and Christa (Richardson) Lear. He had served in the Army,
Army Air Corps, Marines and Air Force and retired in 1973 with 30
years of military duty. He served in Germany, Thailand and Okinawa,
doing several tours at Lowry Air Force Base. He also was an
instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy at its inception. He was
an active hunter, fisherman and liked to travel.
He married Maxine McEntarffer June 19, 1942, at Wilbur,
Neb.
Mr. Lear is survived by his wife of Parker; children Donald L.
Lear Jr. and his wife, Kathleen, of Gainesville, Fla., and Mavis
Rieck and her husband, Donald, of Centennial; grandchildren
Anne-Marie Strong, Donald Lear and his wife, Jamie, Christa and Jay
Walthall; great-grandchildren Christopher Strong and Jordan Lear;
sisters Vivian Teater and Virginia Kieffer; and brother Richard
Lear, all of Lincoln.
The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the
American Diabetes Association, Colorado Affiliate Inc., 2480 West
26th Ave. Denver, CO 80211 in Don’s memory. Ellis Family Services
of Littleton made arrangements.