TEMPE Don J. Singleton

– Don J. Singleton was born on November 2, 1931 in St. Anthony, Idaho to Wayne Cyril and Gladys Johnson Singleton. He passed away at his home in Tempe, Arizona on April 15, 2022. He was a long term resident of Arizona and had lived in the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe areas for over 60 years.

Don came from a family of ranchers and farmers. He is the oldest of eight children born to his parents. His parents had a 3 room old clapboard house on a 100 acre farm in Idaho. They didn’t have running water, a refrigerator or a washing machine. They had a coal stove for heat. His mother canned fruit and vegetables and they had a cow for milk and everyone had chickens so they had plenty of eggs and a chicken dinner on Sunday. His mom sewed all their clothes and they all slept under home made quilts. He went to Wilford Elementary school, grades one to eighth. The school had four rooms and four teachers. Two grades per room.

Don graduated in 1949 from Sugar-Salem High School in Sugar City, Idaho. He was a good student and athlete. He lettered in track, baseball, and football. He left home at seventeen on a bicycle with his brother Val sitting on the handle bars holding Don’s suitcase. Val came because he had to return the bike to their home. Don did not want to be a farmer. He took the train to Portland where he worked milking cows, as a busboy and a fry cook.

At 18 years old, Don enlisted in the military the day the Korean War broke out, June 25, 1950. He wanted to be a pilot in the Air Cadets but you needed a college degree. If you didn’t have a degree you could take a test that was equivalent to a 2 year college degree. He took the test and passed in the top percent. He was sent to Marana Airfield in Tucson, AZ to learn to fly. Don has said that he had a pilot’s license before he had a driver’s license. Not that he didn’t drive but he just hadn’t gotten an actual driving license. He received flight training at Webb Air Force base in Big Springs, Texas and then to Nellis Air Force base in Las Vegas where he flew the F-80 and F-86 fighter jets. In 1953 he was sent to Seoul, Korea where he flew protection for reconnaissance planes over North Korea.

Don retired from the Air Force in 1956. He had been stationed at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington where he met his wife Carol Anne Williams. They were married in 1956 in Tacoma, Washington. Don and Carol eventually divorced after being married for 20 years.

After leaving the Air Force, Don worked for TWA airlines in Kansas City, Missouri, where his daughter Deborah was born. He next worked as the private pilot for the Tovrea family in Phoenix, Arizona. His second daughter

Diana was born during this time. Don next worked as a pilot for Bonanza Airlines in Phoenix, flying F-27’s in the western U.S. His son David was born right after they moved into their first home in Scottsdale in 1961. Bonanza was bought out by Air West in 1968, which then became Hughes Air West in 1970. In 1980 Republic Airlines bought Hughes Air West, and then again in1986 Northwest Airlines bought out Republic Airlines and this was the final airline Don flew for. Don flew many different types of airplanes during these years. The last few years he flew 747’s internationally. He retired as a commercial airline pilot in his early 60’s.

Don moved to Tempe in the late 1970’s and met Peggie Lee. Peggie and Don were married in 1984. Together they loved to host parties for friends at their home, golf, fish, bowl, cook, garden, camp together and run a 26 pool for their friends. They were very active together, had lots of friends and loved each other deeply. Peggie passed away in 2012 and Don missed her very much and all the things they did together. We are sure he is very happy to be together with her again.

Don loved golfing and fishing. We remember how he kept his fishing boat on top of the family suburban, always ready to leave for a fishing trip. He made the best fried fish. He had many great friends that he met golfing. His clubs were usually in the back of his car at all times. No family member was able to beat Don at golf until he had broken both hips and had both knees replaced. He read the newspaper every day and kept current on events happening in the world until his last few days. He loved to plant a garden and flowers in his backyard and had a beautiful yard for many years. If an Arizona sports team was playing he would likely be at his favorite “watering hole,” watching that game with friends. When asked what was the most exciting and dangerous thing he had ever done, he said it was flying a jet at low altitude at 700 mph. He said the most dangerous job he had done was repossessing cars and being chased down dark alleyways for $17 a car.

Don is survived by his daughters, Deborah Stewart-Graf (Frank) of Sandy, Utah and Diana Aldana (Steve) of Mapleton, Utah, nine grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren. He is predeceased by a grandson, son David Singleton, his wife Peggie Singleton, brother John Singleton (Carol), sisters Norma Olsen (Roger) and Irene Leishman (Farrell). His sisters Mary Anne Nielsen (Rees) and Mina Keller (Mike) and brothers Wayne Singleton (Linda), Val Singleton (Mary) also survive him.

Don’s family would like to thank the patrons and management of the Tailgate for their friendship with Don. He loved going going there, socializing and watching the “game” with all of you. Thanks also to the members of the Elks and the Legion for your friendships. A special thank you to Jimmy and Roxie for their friendship to Don over the years. Finally thank you to Infinity Hospice Care for their kindness and care in Don’s last days. Peggie and Don both donated their bodies to Research For Life, for medical research. Their ashes will be placed at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona for military veterans in Phoenix, Arizona. Email condolences and memories to donjsingleton90@gmail.com.