Memorial Service
Army Residence Community Chapel-
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7400 Crestway Dr
San Antonio, TX 78239
1935
Col.
2016
Col. Karges
January 25, 1935 — September 21, 2016
Colonel Donald D. Karges, USAF (Ret) lost his 3-year battle with lymphoma on September 21, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by his wife and steadfast partner of 61 years, Mary Evelyn (Bittner) Karges, his son Curt Karges, his daughter Kelly Beavers and her husband Lyle Beavers. Col. Karges is also survived by his four precious grandchildren: Devon Beavers of Atlanta and Kelsey Beavers of Austin, and twins Sarah Karges of New York City and William Karges of Denver, along with their mother Amy Stovall Karges of Houston. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Peggy Webster Sudduth of Tyler, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Col. Karges was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 25, 1935 to Duane D. Karges and Mary Phelps Karges, their only child, and soon exhibited a total and everlasting love of airplanes and flying. He attended Pascal High School where at 6'4" he was a star basketball player nicknamed "Ichabod." He went on to attend the University of North Texas, where he earned his BBA, his commission in the United States Air Force, and married his beloved Mary Evelyn (M.E.). He felt blessed and proud to serve in the USAF for 26 years with notable leadership assignments in Germany, England, South Carolina, and Washington, DC. While attending Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, he earned his MBA from Auburn University. He served his country in war by flying 100 combat missions over North Vietnam in an RF 101 Voodoo, "alone, unarmed and unafraid," thereby becoming a member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, a band of very special brothers. He was awarded numerous commendations, including The Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight. He completed his Air Force career at the Pentagon, serving the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Don and M.E. retired to Texas where they enjoyed lakeside living on both Lake Palestine (Chandler) and Lake Travis (Lakeway), before settling at the Army Residence Community in San Antonio. Don was an avid skeet shooter, fisherman, and Texas Longhorn fan.
A memorial service and reception will be held in the Chapel at the Army Residence Community, 7400 Crestway Drive, San Antonio, Texas on Friday, September 30, at 1:00pm. Donations, if desired, may be made to Air Warrior Courage Foundation (AWCF), P.O. Box 877, Silver Spring, MD 20918 with SAAMC Troop Support on the memo line.
The family wishes to express appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and staff at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Northeast Methodist Hospital and LifeCare of San Antonio, and especially to Dr. Navneet Mittal.
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