BOMBER MEMORIAL

DONALD GLEN "DON" PANTHER ~ Class of 1962
March 19, 1944 - September 11, 2023



Don was born March 19, 1944, in Spokane to Glen and Mona Panther. He passed away September 11, 2023, in Arizona. He moved to Richland in 1945 and attended Richland schools until he graduated from Richland's Columbia High School in 1962.

He was an incredible husband to Mary; an awesome father to Stephen and Stephanie; an incredible grandfather to Erika, Monika, Gabriel, Vance, Brandon and Mia; and an adored stepfather to Jeremy, Micah and Whitney. He was the best "Bumpa" ever to Karis, Jaron, Addison, Zoë, Hudson, Wyeth and Brette; and great-grandfather to Braevyn, Zamaya and Kourtlyn.

Don was a 12-year Navy nuclear submariner who served in Admiral Rickover's nuclear Navy program. He often told the story that he was thrown out of Rickover's office twice in one day. He was a member of the Navy submarine crew of the Queenfish that charted the Siberian Peninsula.

He did many things during his life: He led a Bible study on base in San Diego, taught for the nuclear sub program in Idaho Falls, Idaho, drove the Sunday morning bus to pick up children to take them to church, was a turkey farmer, built a home and made elephants out of $5.00 bills for kids and waitress tips.

Don began a new career in Richland working for the nuclear power plant and was the Project Manager for cleaning up and closing K West at Hanford. He loved playing Scott Joplin on the piano. Mary often teased him about missing his true calling. He could sit down and play anything by ear, and that could have landed him a job on any cruise ship. Don was very active in church, serving in ministry as a deacon, an elder, a Sunday School teacher, church organist/pianist, song leader and singer in the praise ensemble. He was a hero and advocate for children. He loved to make (and it was delicious) peanut brittle every Christmas and enjoyed sharing it with many friends and family. Don loved people and loved to travel. He had an infectious joy of life and always had a story to share. He used puns quite often to make a point.

Don Panther was the love of Mary's life and her soul mate for 21 years. He is also survived by sisters, Sharon ('57) and Pam ('65) (Al); and brothers, Steve ('67) (Virginia) and Mark ('73) (Bev).

A memorial service will be held October 14, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, 2001 W. Kennewick Avenue.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).