Donald R. Mays

DONALD R. MAYS On Sunday, September 5, 2021, Donald R. Mays went to be with his Lord. He was born in Atlanta, GA, to James Baker and Stella Mays, and moved to Florida at age 4. He attended Fishware Grammar School and Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, FL . The son of an entrepreneur and artist, he spent his teenage summers helping paint billboard signs on the sides of highways, creating signs for Florida citrus and classic tourist attractions. He graduated from the University of Florida with an electrical engineering degree in 1955, the first in the Mays family. After graduation, he moved to Fort Worth, TX where he was a flight test engineer for General Dynamics, Convair Aircraft manufacturing division, working on supersonic bomber equipment. While there, he realized there was an easier and safer way to test drive prototypes in the lab. He served as the architect and design engineer for the Airforce Electronic Warfare Evaluation Simulator, which is the longest simulator used in existence by the Airforce, and which played a key role in the Vietnam and Bosnian wars. He received a gold medallion in recognition of his service from the US Deputy Secretary of Defense on the simulator’s 50th anniversary. He made his career at Lockheed Martin, Sperry Rand, and ILS Laser where he specialized in radar guidance for missile and tank systems. Don was married to his sweetheart, Beverly White, for 60 years. They met at Delaney Street Baptist Church, and after a romantic courtship involving mysterious telegrams, trips in a private plane and dinner at the Crystal Palace, they were never parted again until now. He was a private pilot, an innovative electrical engineer, a steadfast father, faithful son, a genius at fixing anything broken, a connoisseur of the Bacon and Tomato sandwich and a lifelong fan of Bugs Bunny cartoons. Most of all, Don was a loving husband who cared deeply for his family. He is survived by his wife Beverly, daughters Amanda and Julia, granddaughters Scarlett and Sophie, and sister, Barbara Robbins. He was preceded in death by his father James Baker, mother Stella, and sister Gayle Lichte. Arrangements are entrusted to A Community Funeral Home at 910 W. Michigan St. with internment at Greenwood Cemetery.

Donald R. Mays

August 7, 1932 - September 5, 2021