Don Charles Eibert passed away quietly on Wednesday, March 20, 1013, at home with his family in Coronado, Calif., after battling Acute Leukemia. He was 84 years old.
Don loved life and everyone in it. He was thoughtful, generous, giving, sel?ess, and always on the lookout for a good corny joke. The world was a better place with him in it and he will be missed forever.

Don was born December 26, 1928, in Ransom, Kan., but moved to Hot Springs with his family when he was 2-years old. He graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1947 and received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from Senator Francis Case. He became one of the first Hot Springs graduates of the Academy in 1953.

His first assignment in the Navy was aboard the USS Bremerton, a cruiser stationed off the coast of Korea. Upon his return to the States, he was assigned to flight training, receiving his Navy Wings in March of 1955. He continued his career with a stint in a typhoon-hunter squadron. Don made hundreds of landings on many of the well-known Pacific Ocean aircraft carriers, including the Constellation, the Kitty Hawk, the Bennington and the Yorktown.

He taught flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and was proud to have one his students later go on to be an astronaut in the NASA Space Program. Don was the Aircraft Handling Officer aboard the Yorktown for more than two years and his last tour of duty was as an on-board delivery pilot, flying high-priority cargo from Japan, Viet Nam and the Philippines to the Gulf of Tonkin.

During his time in the Navy, Don flew everything from single-and-multi engine propeller aircraft, turbo engines on up to multi-engine jets and was one of only a handful of naval aviators to successfully land a jet engine aircraft after a complete engine failure.

He received six Bronze Stars during his naval career and after his service retirement in 1973 he received his commercial pilot's license.

He began work for the City of Coronado in 1973, a career that continued for 18 years and encompassed time as first a police office and later as the city building inspector. Don held a California teaching certificate and taught building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical courses in the San Diego area for several years.

Don met Pauline Doering while in Pensacola and they were married in 1954. They were married for 39 years until Pauline passed away in 1993, raising a daughter, Donna. In 1995, Don met Eleanor Rover at a Lutheran Church potluck supper and they were married a year later.
Don and Eleanor were volunteers at the Cleveland National Forest in California, leading campfire programs and nature walks. They were active members of the Coronado Optimist Club and were involved in many civic activities.

After spending several summers in the Black Hills, they decided to retire there, moving to Hot Springs in 1999. They were active in the Meals on Wheels program, on the Library Board, attended the Senior Center and were members of the Kiwanis Club and the United Churches.
Don was a lifetime member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Hot Springs Airport Board. In September of 2009, Don was inducted into the Combat Wing of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.

Don is survived by his daughter, Donna Eibert Crossman, son-in-law Martin Crossman and grandson Blair Crossman of Coronado, Ca. and six step-grandchildren; Joan Wagner, Donna Vincenzo, Gail Rover of Illinois and Mark Rover, David Rover and Matthew Rover of California.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his two wives, as Eleanor passed away in 2008.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 3, 2013 at The United Churches in Hot Springs with Pastor Clint Walker officiating. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.

Donations may be made in Don's name to The Nature Conservancy on-line or by phone at 1-800-628-6860 (Tribute Account #1865408).