Former Fairchild commander passes away Dec. 19 Published Jan. 12, 2010 FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Col. Donald L. Keplinger, United States Air Force (retired) passed away Dec. 19, 2009, in Mesa, Ariz., surrounded by his family and listening to Sinatra's Come Fly with Me. Colonel Keplinger was the 92nd Bombardment Wing commander at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., from June 1971 to April 1973. He loved the Spokane area and lived at Fairchild, the Mt. Spokane Condominium area and Hayden Lake, Idaho. He was very active in the Lilac Festival activities and thoroughly enjoyed wearing his Lilac blazer. He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis W. and Leta M. Keplinger, by his brother Robert L. Keplinger, and by his daughter Carolyn Keplinger. Don is survived by his wife Kathryn (Kay), his sister Martha Cook, and his children Susan Heninger, Nancy Beezley Topper, M.D., Col. Patricia Hunt, USAF (ret.), Bruce Keplinger, and stepchildren Vicki Parangan, Stephen Meyer, and Richard Meyer. In addition, Don leaves twenty grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. His descendants, along with his many good friends, celebrate and honor his life. Donald Lee Keplinger was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on Dec. 29, 1921. He attended the Kansas City public schools and graduated from Southwest High School in 1939. Don graduated from the University of Kansas in 1942 as a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Don immediately joined the Army and entered pilot training in 1943. He loved flying and spent thirty-two years in service to his country as an Air Force pilot and instructor pilot. He flew the T-6, B-26, B-47, B-52 and KC-135 aircraft. He served through three wars and flew 44 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded, with his flight crew, the prestigious MacKay Trophy for flying 10,000 miles in a nonstop 24-hour flight in the B-47 Stratojet, in 1954. In addition to commanding the 92nd Bombardment Wing, he also had the honor of serving as the Commander of 98th Strategic Wing at Torrejon Air Base in Madrid, Spain. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. Don was an avid amateur radio operator and was known through the years by the call letters K4JKP, WA0WMJ, K1TXR and W7LYU. He loved golf and played frequently until his very last years. Don was also a skilled amateur magician who loved to enthrall his friends, especially the younger ones, with his sleight of hand and delightful personality. A memorial service will be held March 26 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, in Phoenix, Ariz., at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to The Air Force Memorial Foundation, One Air Force Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22204 (www.airforcememorial.org). To this daring aviator, decorated patriot, inspiring leader, devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and consummate communicator we say: "See you on the alternate band. The mystery beyond is now yours to explore." Alis volat propriis (He flies with his own wings).