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.