Donald Clair Springer, age 95 of Hastings, went to be with the Lord on May 31, 2019.
Donald was born on April 30, 1924 in Bowens Mills, Michigan, the son of James Harold and Gertrude (Anders) Springer. He graduated from Delton High School in 1942.
Donald was a US Navy Pilot, serving in World War II and retired from the Navy Reserves in 1963. He worked for EW Bliss in the 1950’s 1960’s and 1970’s. In 1976 he went to Marion Power Shovel and retired to Florida in 1984.
On August 21, 1947, Donald married Maxine Bennett, and they enjoyed 71 years of marriage.
Donald attended the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, Michigan; Marion, Ohio; and Venice, Florida. He was a member of the American Legion Post #45, and the Coin Club in Venice, Florida. Donald and Maxine loved traveling all over the United States and overseas. Both being pilots, Maxine and Donald served as the second managers of the Hastings Airpark from 1949 through 1954.
In retirement, Maxine and Don have traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states and Alaska twice. Outside the United States, they have cruised throughout the Panama Canal, visited their exchange student daughter in Finland and made multiple trips to Canada to vacation and visit friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, brothers James and Francis, sister Gloria (Springer) Russell, son Val Bennett Springer, nephew Phillip Springer and great-granddaughter Kyomi Linai Culpepper.
Donald is survived by his wife Maxine (Bennett) Springer; daughters Janice Springer Miller and Sue (Michael) Murphy; grandchildren, Michael Dean (Brooke) Miller, Amanda Dubay, Micah (Jesi) Murphy, Chad (Maggie) Murphy, Jamie (Amy) Murphy, Shana (Cliff) Bush, Catherine Hawthorne, Meghann (Tony) Russell, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter, Claire Marie Miller.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, June 6, 2019 at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S Broadway; Hastings, Michigan with a visitation one-hour prior. Interment with Military Honors presented by the Hastings American Legion Post 45 and active Navy at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings following the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Val "Bub" Bennett Springer Scholarship at the Hastings Education Enrichment Foundation (HEEF) or Kyomi’s Gift. www.kyomisgift.org) through the Barry Community Foundation. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.
