Obituary
Donald Eugene Andrews was born at home in Springfield Missouri June 26, 1936 to Mildred and Gene Andrews. Don grew up watching his father’s woodworking skills which is where he got his own interest and capability in woodworking. As an adult, Don would actually ship his bare wood collections to places he was transferred to hoping to create something uniquely his in his spare time.
When Don was ten, he and his sister Margaret both accepted Christ and were baptized on Easter Sunday of 1946.
Don was also interested in electronics. In 1951, Don was building crystal radio receiver sets of which he maintained that interest even today by his membership in the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the States.
Don graduated in 1953 and spent a year in college before entering the Air Force in 1954. He completed he four year stint then returned to Missouri to attend Missouri University where he completed his undergraduate and Doctorate’s in physics. Now he was Dr. Andrews!!!
Most of Don’s career was spent in highly classified government contracting positions from California to Colorado to final retirement in Washington DC.
Don was briefly married to Jan. Don then married Lynda Chloe Sullivan and spent 20 years together raising their two children Mark David and Erica Lyn Andrews.
Don lived and breathed for his children. He always said he raised them for themselves not for him. He was the father (and Lynda the mother) that all children should have to see them grow. They were not spoiled but lovingly raised to earn the things in life.
Erica has become that same type of parent. She and her husband Lance Robinson are raising to fabulous sons, Lance Donovan and Braden Dayne. These two fine young men have been apple of Don’s eye since the day each were born.
Mark married the true love of his life Felicia Yakel in 1995. Mark is a truly gifted programmer with interests not only in his company’s works but he and Felicia are involved in the gaming world. Mark recently spent 6 weeks with us during this trying period and he remarked that when he got home, he was going to hold Felicia for a week. Ahh – true love!!
After Don and Lynda parted in 1984, he met Cheryl Balombini in 1985. They worked together at Buckley Air National Guard in Aurora, Colorado. Their business friendship blossomed into an romance that spanned the next thirty plus years of their lives. They married Sept 20, 1987 in Odenton, Maryland. This date was the anniversary of Cheryl’s parents, Charles and Maxine Knight. Don and Cheryl recently celebrated their 29th anniversary even though Cheryl kept telling him it was their 30th. Don knew better and truly wanted to be there for that next anniversary.
Time and space cannot fill the passages that could be written of this remarkable man – a son, a serviceman, a scientist, a husband times three, a loving father, grandfather, and servant of God. A man many have said is kind, patient, and wise. A true friend and companion.
Now his time has come and he sits at the feet of God.
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