Don Driver

MAJ Don Charles Driver USAR Ret., 66, of Skipperville, AL passed away Sunday, May 5, 2013 at his residence.

Funeral services will be 2 pm Thursday, May 9, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. Flag line honors will be provided by the Wiregrass Patriot Guard Riders. The family will receive friends from 12-2 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.

MAJ Driver was born June 9, 1946 in Troy, AL and resided there the early part of his life. He relocated to Woodbury, NJ and graduated from Deptford High School. He enlisted with the U.S. Army in 1965 and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, Grenada, and Operation Desert Shield.  After OCS, he joined with the 5th Special Forces group "Green Berets," "MACV-SOG," as well as the 101st AIRBORNE BTRY "C" 4th 77th "Screaming Eagles," where he flew heavy hog AH-1G Cobra gunships. Within his first two years after enlistment, he was promoted to Captain.

MAJ Driver served for over 26 1/2 years prior to retirement and was awarded many medals during his tenure including the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2D, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with "V" Device and 2D-12th Award, Army Aviator Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Achievement Medal W/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with W/2 silver & 4 Bronze Service Stars, Purple Hearts as well as numerous other combat and service medals. He was U.S. Army Special Forces qualified, Expert m-14 Rifle Marksman M-60, Sharpshooter m-14, a Cobra Gunship Pilot with the 101st, and a 4.2" mortar carrier commander.  MAJ Driver was also a 32º Mason/Shriner of Lawton, OK Lodge and Consistory.

MAJ Driver lived his life always moving forward and never took no for an answer. He was a man of his word and always made sure that his family never went without. After several moves throughout his military career he made his permanent residence in Skipperville, AL in 1983. He filmed sporting events at G.W. Long High School for over 10 years until his health wouldn’t permit it. Throughout the last year, his health failed several times whereas he found a way to get back up and dust himself off and never gave up.

MAJ Driver and his wife Madeline stood side by side for 40 years for which he loved her with all of his heart. Through “thick and thin” and all the way to the end, they were inseparable. He loved all of his children and grandchildren with the same conviction. Out of all of the accomplishment in his life, his family was his heart, and to he, his greatest achievement. He was so proud of all of his family and bragged all of the time to everyone.

Survivors include his wife Madeline Driver; sons, Dan Carlton Jessica Driver and Don Charles Driver, Jr.; daughters, Annie Lee Driver and Cheryl Lynn Rozga; 7 grandchildren, Hunter Myers, Madilayna Driver, Don Charles Driver, III, Emily Ann Loyless, Brittany Loyless, Timothy Loyless, and Shelby Rozga; a sister Sharon Pat Conlin; several nieces and nephews.