Don Kirby Maxon

Don Kirby Maxon, 80, died of pneumonia on May 18, 2012, at Meadow Wood Nursing Center in Gastonia, North Carolina, with family by his side. Don made a career of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in the Korean War 1950-52 and the Vietnam War 1968-69. He served at the rank of captain before retiring at 20 years. He then was an aviation technical instructor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for 17 years. In 1996, he and his wife, Lou Bogart Maxon, retired to Arizona. They were active members of Red Mountain United Methodist Church. Don was preceded in death by Lou in 2006. They were married for 55 years. In 2009, Don moved to North Carolina to be closer to his children. Don is survived by his three children Susan Maxon, Stephanie Jones, and Richard Maxon, and their spouses; grandchildren Christy Mast, Adam Brouillard, Matthew Brouillard, Jennifer Beasley, Diane Jones, Jacob Jones, and Janet Zeak, and their families; his mom Leona Maxon; three brothers, Ron, Kevin, and Tim Maxon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held in Arizona Thursday, May 24 at Red Mountain United Methodist Church, 2936 N. Power Road in Mesa. Viewing/Visitation will take place at the church at 10:00 am, and the funeral service at 11:00 am, with a reception following the service. On Friday, May 25, at 9:00 am, a committal service, with full military honors, will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. Those attending need to be there by 8:45 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts may be made either to Gaston Hospice, PO Box 3984, Gastonia NC 28054 www.gastonhospice.org or Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203 www.nmcrs.org.