Donald Ray Brewer

Obituaries

Tuesday, 28 January 2020 14:06

Colonel Donald Ray Brewer, retired, 83 of Grant passed away Friday, December 27, 2019 at his residence. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Grant Church of Christ with David Powell and Clayton Tuggle officiating. Burial with full military honors followed in Panquin Cemetery. Colonel Don Brewer was a native of Grant and the son of J.L. and Dollie Foster Brewer. He graduated from Kate Duncan Smith DAR High School in 1954, worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C. as a Fingerprint Specialist for a time and enlisted in the D.C. Air National Guard. He was called to active duty with the United States Air Force during the Pueblo Crisis and remained in the Air Force until his retirement with over 38 years of service. Colonel Brewer’s educational background included a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland, and he was also a graduate of the Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, The Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Air War College. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for service in Vietnam and the Legion of Merit. During his military career, Colonel Brewer held every rank in the United States Air Force from Airman Basic to Senior Master Sergeant and 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel. He said the highlights of his career were commanding the military air terminal at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, service in the air terminal at Rhein Main Air Base in Germany and acting as Director of Air Transportation for the Pacific Theater while stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. He and the former Jean Kirkland, daughter of the late Homer and Ruth Kirkland were married for 64 years. Together they raised three children: Roger (Jo Donna), Jennifer and Renee. They also had three grandchildren: Christa Frangos, Chelsea Brewer (Mat) Hagen, Chandler (Sidney) Brewer. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters.