Mr. Ovel ?Don? Withers was born on July 12 1926 in Russell Springs KY. He was the youngest of eight surviving children born to Mr. Ovel Withers a school teacher and Ms. Mollie Withers a homemaker. Mr. Withers graduated from Russell Springs High School in 1944 where he was awarded a Pro Merito Club Scholarship on April 19 1942. He interrupted his studies to enlist in the US Navy on July 11 1944. The Navy had embarked on a massive wartime shipbuilding program. In November 1942 the draft age was lowered to 18 which reduced the number of college graduates available to become officers and help man the ships. The Navy began the V-12 Program whereby selectees who completed up to seven semesters of college would qualify to attend Navy midshipmen schools or Marine Corps officer candidate school at any of 131 participating colleges and universities. Mr. Withers was selected for the V-12 Program which included many distinguished selectees such as Warren Christopher Robert Kennedy and Johnny Carson. After Mr. Withers attended Princeton Harvard University and the University of South Carolina the war wound down before he could serve overseas. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on June 30 1946 with the rating of AS and S2C and received the World War II Victory Medal. After the war Mr. Withers continued his studies in Europe attending Oxford and The Soborne. He was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key and completed a degree in Medieval Languages. Mr. Withers joined Pan American Airways after completing his studies. He initially became a ticket agent because of the opportunity the job offered for international travel. Bet he stayed with Pan AM and became the Director of Latin American Operations before retiring on June1 1984. During his career with Pan Am Mr. Withers had been based in Seattle New York and Miami. But once he retired he relocated to Flagler Beach Florida where he lived in a house he had designed himself on North Central Ave. In September 2001 Mr. Withers moved into an assisted living facility. He quietly passed away from heart failure on October 3 2004 at Ormond Memorial Hospital where he had been fighting pneumonia. Mr. Withers is survived by his sisters Mrs. Mildred V. Grimsley of Fairfax VA; Mrs. Elizabeth Garner of Russell Springs KY; and Mrs. Vella Mae Heisel of Dayton OH; and Mrs. Mollie Stimson of Montgomery TX; his aunt of 100 years Vella Cooke of Hopewell VA; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial Donations may be made in Mr. Withers? memory to Alzheimer''''s Association 111 N. Frederick Ave. Ste 100 Daytona Beach FL 32114.

Condolences to the family may be sent via the family guestbook at www.ormondfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Ormond Funeral Home.