Dr. Donald Eugene Fought
May 26, 1935 — December 17, 2016
Dr. Donald “Don” Eugene Fought
A Highly Accomplished Aerospace Engineer -
Dr. Donald “Don” Eugene Fought, age 81, of Mechanicsburg, passed away peacefully at the end while being comforted by his family on Saturday, December 17, 2016. Don was born on Sunday, May 26, 1935 in Silver Spring Township to the late Wilbur Harry Fought and Elizabeth Mae (Coover) Fought.
Don’s survivors include his loving wife of 24 years, Gail Maria (Blackmore) Fought; his three children: Bonnie Fought of Hillsborough, CA, B. Scott Fought of Celebration, FL, Deborah Westergaard of Davis, CA; his six grandchildren; and his brother, Robert “Bob” Fought of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Don graduated from Mechanicsburg High School as part of the class of 1953. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and in 1959 with a master’s degree. Don started working for North American Rockwell in 1959 and continued on with Boeing when the two merged until 1987. During his employment with North American Rockwell, Don received his PhD from Ohio State University in aerospace engineering in 1968. He worked at NASA facilities as a private contractor with the Microgravity and Syre Corporation until his retirement in 1994. Don then returned home to Mechanicsburg to pursue genealogy and begin his collection of sheet music and vintage records. He was raised in and was a past member of Trindle Springs Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg. Don was a member of the Mechanicsburg and Cumberland County Historical Society. He was an avid instrumentalist with memberships in the New Cumberland Town Band, New Singer Band in Mechanicsburg, Keystone Concert Band, The Sounds of Brass, and Brass Works.
All are welcome to join Don’s family at his gathering of family and friends on Sunday, January 15, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until time of service at 5:00 p.m. at Myers - Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory, 37 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; with Celebrant George Spangler officiating. Don’s family invites everyone to join them for a time of food and fellowship at The Stage & Studio Café, next door to the funeral home, following the service. Burial was private and at the convenience of the family in Trindle Spring Cemetery in Mechanicsburg.
Contributions in celebration of Don’s life can be made to The Pennsylvania State University Marching Blue Band, 27 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802-1500, www.GiveTo.PSU.edu , Hawk Moutain, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA 19529, www.HawkMountain.org , or Mechanicsburg Museum Association, 2 West Strawberry Alley, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.
Don’s family has entrusted his care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421. Read Don’s full obituary, view his memorial video and portrait, and sign his official guest book at www.Buhrig.com .