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Online Obituaries for the Port Charlotte, Venice,
Englewood, & Punta Gorda FL Area

Donald Charles Kipfer Sr

November 01, 1923 - December 05, 2012

Col. Donald C. Kipfer, Sr

Colonel Donald Charles Kipfer, 89, of Punta Gorda, FL passed away December 5, 2012. He was born in Massillon, Ohio, on November 1, 1923 and retired from the USAF to Punta Gorda in 1978. At Massillon's Washington High School he was lead clarinetist in their nationally famous marching/swing band and received many awards for excellence in science and math studies. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1943, graduated from West Point in 1948 and served as a pilot, command pilot, instructor pilot, and missileer during three major wars. After earning his advanced degree at the Institute of Technology, he was appointed project officer at NDHQ in Ottawa, Canada, for the development of the CF-105 interceptor aircraft. He served as a combat pilot in Vietnam and as Base Commander at Nakhon Phanom in Thailand. He served as Director of Operations in Brussels, Belgium for all USAF research in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Col Kipfer began as an engineer on the bench at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, and rose
to Director of Research and Development at Andrews AFB for all Air Force electronics, avionics, and weapons. During his active duty he contributed or supervised development on sub millimeter radar, moving target radar, infra red, high speed analogue and digital computers, laser, magnetohydrodynamics, nuclear weapon improvement and safety and other classified developments. His last assignment in the USAF at McClellan AFB, Sacramento, California,
was as System Manager for World Wide Airforce Electronics, the A-10 fighter, and the Space Shuttle. He was a member of many service related organizations. After retirement from the USAF, Col Kipfer established a small company, MaeDon, which handled his art work. He wrote and published several novels, sold thousands of copies of his oil paintings and won many ribbons and national recognition for his wood sculpture. In addition, he was an ardent golfer, fisherman, gardener and world traveler. He was a member of the Burnt Store Presbyterian Church.
Col Kipfer is survived by his sons, Mark Tracy (Carole) Kipfer of Atlanta, GA and David L. (Shawn) Kipfer of Punta Gorda, FL; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is pre deceased by his wife Edna Mae Kipfer in July 2007 and his son, Donald C. Kipfer Jr in 2009.

The family will receive friends from 10:30 am till 11:00 am, Monday, December 10, 2012 at the Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home, 635 E Marion Ave, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. The Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 am, Monday at the funeral home with Pastor Tim Stewart officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to the Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, 11330 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33955.