Donald “Papaw” Cletus Gerling

Date of Death: October 16, 2022

cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, VA

At a later date

Donald “Papaw” Gerling, 86, passed away peacefully in his home in Winchester, VA, on Sunday, October 16, 2022.

Don was born in Boonville, Missouri in 1936, son of the late Cletus and Ann Gerling. He left Missouri in September of 1954, enlisting in the United States Navy, where he served honorably for 21 years across the United States and Berlin, Germany. Following his naval career, he worked and later retired from the National Wildlife Federation in Vienna, VA.

Surviving Donald are his daughters, Debbie Justice (Fred), Teresa Coakley (Marty) and Donnelle Gerling; son, Steven Gerling (Denise); eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Seger and Jeanie Wesselman.

The family is arranging a military funeral honors service in Arlington National Cemetery to be held at a later date.

Debber

Donnelle Gerling

Fred Justice

Debbie Gerling

Randy Malick

Lynda Cole

Jaime

Lynz

Deb

Light a candle

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, VA

Map

At a later date

Donald “Papaw” Gerling, 86, passed away peacefully in his home in Winchester, VA, on Sunday, October 16, 2022. Don was born in Boonville, Missouri in 1936, son of the late Cletus and Ann Gerling. He left Missouri in September of 1954, enlisting in the United States Navy, where he served honorably for 21 years acrossContinue Reading

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Happy birthday dad! Love and miss you so much xoxo

So sorry to hear this! Tommy and had many good times with he and your Mom! Hugs to your entire family! Don served his country well!

Dad, I love you and will miss you! The proudest day of my life is when you hugged me and cried at my graduation! I know you are with your parents and sisters and can now walk without pain.

Rest in Peace, Dad. I am sorry there was not additional peace in your later years of life. Families are complicated, and ours certainly was. But we know you were there for us, throughout our lives, and did the absolute best you could. Sending my love, Donnelle (Nell)

RIP Don...you are one of my best friends...

Peace of mind is a call away. We're here when you need us most.

My sincere sympathy to all of Donald C. Gerling’s Family and friends. Nelda Minor (Lynda Cole’s mother-in-law).

Donnie's mother was my dad's sister. His father was my mother's brother. I don't know if being double cousins has anything to do with it or not, but put Donnie, Betty Ann and Jeannie in a room together and you wouldn't get out without sore stomach muscles from laughing. Growing up, I never saw Donnie in any other clothing other than a navy uniform. Army uniformed soldiers came through Pilot Grove all the time, but sailors were watched carefully as they passed. I too always thought him special. I traded emails with Donnie over the years. He closed with "Happy Trails". Indeed.

We miss you already dad...we don't have anyone to answer our questions anymore...may you rest in peace until we meet again, Love, Fred and Deb

I’m deeply sorry for you loss and I wish for peace in your hearts through this time. Don was always a great person to me and my family. I know he has found peace and comfort being plucked from his pain in this world “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.” –Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 R.I.P Don

So sorry for the family’s loss. Uncle Donnie was a good man who shared so many of his stories with me in his final weeks. Those are memories that will be with me forever. He is with his sisters and parents now and enjoying good health. I am blessed to have known him.

Papaw, I am heartbroken that I didn’t get the chance to say a proper goodbye, and especially sad that you did not get to meet your great granddaughter Shilo Jaymes. I loved you and I always will, so much. No matter what papaw, I’ll always hold our memories in my heart. I am so glad we got the chance to form the special bond we had. Love you always paps. Your granddaughter, Jaime Lynne?❤️

This man was my grandfather… as above “my papaw”.. an amazing, very large, determined hard headed man. A man that lived a very long and meaningful life. Papaw saw tons of places and things, had a very large family along the way. He had also been through quite a few challenges same time. He loved his family whole heartedly and the best way he knew how. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren and he felt enough fulfilled he was ready to go when he did. It still left an emptiness of course in the hearts and souls of those he left behind. He will be missed greatly and remembered even more. His memory will live on through us all until we meet again. I love you papaw and I’ll forever remember our special times together and our little ways we had to build our bond. I’ll keep your memory alive through my own children and family. Love you so much and miss you even more! Until we meet again… love “Lynz”

In memory of Donald “Papaw” Cletus Gerling, Deb lit a candle

I miss you so much dad. I have no one to ask anymore....rest in peace dad, and I will look for you when I get there...

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.