Air Force veteran loved outdoors, spending time with family

Don Hyatt was married to his wife, Eleanor, for 60 years before they realized they were baptized on the same day at Grace Fellowship Church in Everson.

The couple formally met years later while at a Scottdale restaurant.

“He was wonderful,” Eleanor Hyatt said. “I was married to him for 60 years, and I didn’t regret one year.”

Donald Milton Hyatt of Mt. Pleasant died Sunday, March 8, 2020. He was 82.

Born May 19, 1937, he was the son of Harold D. and Mildred Turney Hyatt.

After graduating from Scottdale High School in 1955, Mr. Hyatt enlisted in the Air Force, where he served until Dec. 16, 1963. After completing his training in Denver, he joined the 376th AME Maintenance as a radar mechanic. There, he attained the rank of Airman 1st Class.

While most of his time in the service was based out of Columbus, Ohio, he did travel overseas and to South Africa for several months at a time.

“He liked it in the service,” Eleanor Hyatt said. “It was like a family. The people that were there, they were all like family to us.”

Throughout his time in the service, Mr. Hyatt was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit award, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster and the Good Conduct Medal with two bronze loops.

After discharging from the Air Force, Mr. Hyatt worked briefly at Westinghouse and as a police officer in Everson and Somerset. He finally took a position with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, where he worked as a waterway conservation officer for 27 years.

“He just wanted to work outside,” his wife said. “He didn’t want to work in a factory, where he would have to punch a time card. He just wanted to be outside because he loved hunting and fishing.”

She noted that he would take a yearly fishing trip to Maine with a group of friends.

Together the couple raised three daughters — Laurie Kautz, Tammy Lynn Geary and Dawn Overgard — and also enjoyed spending time together gardening, tending to apple, peach and pear trees, and canning vegetables.

“We canned every year. He always helped,” his wife said. “And we froze the fruit. He loved it.”

She added that he also enjoyed spending time with his dog, Bailey.

Mr. Hyatt was preceded in death by his daughter, Geary, and a grandson, Matthew Geary.

In addition to his wife and daughters, he is survived by his brother Ronald Hyatt, sister Barbara Elkins, several grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Family and friends will be received from noon to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Frank Kapr Funeral Home, 417 W. Pittsburgh St., Scottdale. Additional visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, when his funeral service will begin.

The Mt. Pleasant American Legion Post No. 446 Honor Guard will conduct military honors prior to the funeral service.

Memorials can be made to Amedysis Hospice.