Donald Kenneth Chalfant (August 08, 1937 - November 28, 2017)

In loving memory of
Donald Kenneth Chalfant
  • August 08, 1937
  • -
  • November 28, 2017

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Obituary

Donald Kenneth Chalfant
8/8/1937 – 11/28/2017

Retired Navy Lieutenant Commander Donald Kenneth Chalfant, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away at home in Salt Springs, Florida on November 28, 2017.

He was born on August 8, 1937, in Weldon, Illinois and raised in Salinas, California.  He joined the Navy in 1956, graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1964 and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA in 1975.  During his naval career he was trained at NTC San Diego and attached to NMBC 5.  He was stationed: Fort Hueneme, CA, Guam, San Diego, CA, Newport, RI, Jacksonville, FL, Salinas, CA, and Pascagoula, MS.  He was aboard:  USS Wexford, USS David R Ray, USS Shrike, USS Bigelow.  In 1971-1972 he proudly served our country in the Vietnam War, and in 1975 he and his family moved to Gautier, MS where he was stationed at Supship Pascagoula, MS.  In 1979, after serving for 24 years in the Navy he retired and began a career at Raytheon.  He was an officer and member of the VFW Post 2132 and a member of Friends of the Library of the Kathleen Mcllwain Public Library, both in Gautier, MS.  He was an avid MR2 enthusiast and moderator of the MR2.com website.

He is survived by wife Hope Lucky, son David (Anna) Chalfant, granddaughter Savannah Chalfant, step daughter Brielle Burres Watters (Bob) , step grandsons Nathan and Zach Watters and step daughter Laurel Burres Lewis.  He is preceded in death by his sons Steven and Timothy Chalfant, mother L. Marie Brendal Chalfant Beavers, and father Albert Russell Chalfant.

Donald Kenneth will be greatly missed by family and friends.  He will be cremated and interment will be in the National Cemetery, Biloxi, MS, on January 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM.
Due to cemetery regulations, the family is requesting in lieu of flowers, if you wish, make a donation to your favorite charity.


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  1. 91 NA MR2 says:
    23 Aug 2023
    Enjoyed our interactions and friendship via mr2.com. The wheels and hitch I bought from you are still on my '91 MR2! Thanks for everything you did for the MR2 community and your love of the car!

  2. MR2 Owner says:
    21 Feb 2021
    Rest well, friend, from one MR2 maniac to another. Thanks for your friendship over the years.

  3. Betty Sue O'Brian says:
    26 Dec 2017
    Hope, I know that Donald brought you great joy, and you he. We love you.

  4. Bob Watters says:
    23 Dec 2017
    Through MR2's, we became fast friends and then family before I knew it. I'll seriously miss your guidance but will always hear you in my mind... use the right tool for the job, make sure you bring Brielle cheese, you are in trouble... 17 years in, I know what he means now. Brielle stole my heart (you are in trouble, he said). We have two boys together - now 6 and 8. Brielle and I learned so much from Ken. The world is darker without him.

  5. Ronald L. Hill & Gail L. Taylor says:
    23 Dec 2017
    I met Ken while we both went to the University of Oklahoma and had classes together. We both served in the U. S. Navy and that is what drew us together.
    Ken will be missed greatly by me and I am sure by many others.
    My condolences to the family!
    An old Navy tribute to sailors is I think appropriate to say for Ken: Sailor rest your oars! Good bye old friend you will be missed.

  6. Denny Engle says:
    22 Dec 2017
    Hope,
    Ken & I had some fun times over the years, & enjoyed the same level of 'humor'. He will be missed. Thoughts & prayers are with you.
    Denny Engle
    Gautier, MS

  7. Pauline Hill says:
    14 Dec 2017
    Ken you were a remarkable man and will be greatly missed. My condolences and prayers to all your family and friends, especially Anna, David and Savannah. May you rest in peace.

  8. Thomas Molander says:
    13 Dec 2017
    May my friend, Ken Chalfant, rest in peace. I always knew him as Ken. He and I were born 168 miles apart in Illinois and nine days apart in August 1937. We met in Gautier, Mississippi when he entered Brielle's life. He was a fun guy to be around. He was smart and quite knowledgeable. My condolences to all his family and friends, especially, Brielle. God bless everyone.

  9. Tommy Guttmann says:
    12 Dec 2017
    You were an inspiration with your wit and sage counsel through many of life's pitfalls and tribulations as well as its golden moments. It was my great fortune to have known you.
    I will always remember my dear friend. RIP

  10. ARTHUR BASTIDAS says:
    12 Dec 2017
    Rest in peace my friend. We had not seen each other in a long time but you leave a large void in the MR2 community.
    My deepest heartfelt condolances to Hope and his family.

  11. Connie Balmes says:
    12 Dec 2017
    Donald was a wonderful, funny man. His quick wit always made me laugh. He could fix anything broken, even if it meant creating his own solution and not going "by the books." Extending my deepest sympathies to Hope and to all of Donald's family.

  12. Anna says:
    12 Dec 2017
    Miss and Love you! RIP Ken

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