- Date Of Birth: September 13, 1943
- Date Of Death: June 14, 2019
- Resting Place: Anchorage
- City: Memphis
- State: Tennessee
Donald Paul Stewart, 76, passed away peacefully at home on June 14, 2019 after battling multiple medical conditions.
Don was born in Memphis Tennessee to Charles and Edith (Craven) Stewart, a career military family which led to growing up all over the world. Don served in the Air Force, as his father before him, with tours of duty in Vietnam, returning at a time when we as a nation did not show proper respect to those in service. So please, next time you encounter a service member, please thank them. “The nation will remain the land of the free, only as long as it is the home of the brave.” With his service completed, he returned to his roots. Attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he played football and studied architecture. But his fascination with electronics never left his mind and that path led to a lifelong career. Moving to the west coast for a change, work took him to Idaho; where he met Sharon and made a family with her and her daughter, Jeri. With his job providing telecommunications; they logged many miles and had many adventures throughout most of the United States, Don even traveled abroad to bring communications to an emerging Pakistan.
In July of 1974, Don and the family moved to Alaska for a job with RCA telecommunications; and they did so with the plans of settling down in one place before Jeri was old enough to begin school. Adopting the then small community of Eagle River as their home and becoming involved in numerous community events over the years. In 1986, they moved to the Valley, where he continued to work for numerous communication companies throughout Alaska such as Alascom, MTA, Kenas and New Horizon. His last job, and one of his proudest, was working on the missile defense system up until 2008. In retirement Don filled his hours with his love of woodworking. Turning a hobby into a business, he formed “Rustic Wood Stuff” with his wife, Sharon.
He became known for beautiful birch crafts and enjoyed the markets and craft shows for many years until health issues kept him from the shop. Don is survived by his wife, Sharon, nearly reaching their golden anniversary; his lovely daughter, Jeri Stewart; sister, Susan Hernandez and family, of South Carolina; and his Goddaughter, Amanda Raulerson.
