Donald Edwin Eaton

Donald Edwin Eaton, age 102, passed away peacefully from pneumonia on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

Born on September 2, 1923, in Clio, Michigan, Donald was the son of William Hiram Eaton and Grace Ethel Mann Eaton. He graduated from Clio High School in June 1941 and began attending Alma College. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he left college to answer the call to serve his country.

Don proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II as a navigation officer aboard the USS Ashland (LSD-1) in the South Pacific. After completing four years of military service, he returned to Alma College and earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

He went on to enjoy a distinguished 32-year career with Ford Motor Company, serving as Heavy Truck Fleet Sales and Leasing Manager. Throughout his career, he traveled extensively, building strong and lasting relationships with dealers across the United States. He was an active member of both the American Trucking Associations and the Western Highway Institute.

Don was preceded in death by Jean (Black) Eaton, his beloved wife of 63 years. He is survived by his sons, David (Lisa) Eaton and Scott (Melinda) Eaton; his grandchildren, Nicholas (McKenzie) Eaton, Rebecca (Clint) Heiber, Olivia (Nicolas) Karayakaylar, and Caden Eaton; and his great-grandchildren, Emma Eaton, Nicholas Eaton, Ryan Eaton, Klaudia Heiber, and Gianna Heiber.

Mullett Lake was one of Don’s greatest loves. He cherished spending time there and devoted himself to improving the community he cared about so deeply. As past president of the Grandview Beach Association, he helped secure the installation of natural gas service throughout the neighborhood and worked to establish snowmobile speed limits along the trail connecting Indian River and Cheboygan, improving safety for residents and visitors alike. A licensed private pilot, he often flew his own airplane from the Detroit area to Indian River on Friday evenings, eager to spend every possible moment at the lake with family and friends.

Don loved the outdoors and embraced everything lake life had to offer. He enjoyed water skiing, fishing, boating, hunting, and snow skiing in both Michigan and Colorado. Whether on the lake, in the woods, or on the ski slopes, he found joy in being active and spending time with family and friends.

Above all, Don’s family was his greatest source of pride and happiness. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose love, guidance, and example will remain with those who knew him. His life was marked by service, hard work, community involvement, and an unwavering commitment to family.

A visitation will be held at Stone Funeral Home & Cremation Services on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM, with a service to follow at 7:00 PM. He will take place at Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mullett Lake Area Preservation Society.

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