U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer retired, Donald Harry Damon, 83, of Sanford made the ultimate journey to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 27, 2017 at his residence after an eight year battle with cancer.
He was born April 3, 1934 in Lackawanna, NY, the son of the late Leland H. Damon Sr. and Pearl Stettenbenz Damon.
Mr. Damon was a veteran of 23 years of service in the 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Forces with service in the Dominican Republic, two tours in Vietnam, and other locations. Among his many awards and decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge. He retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in 1975. He was a Decade-Life member of the Special Forces Association, Life member of the DAV and 82nd Airborne Division Association. He was a member of the Lillington, NC Masonic Lodge #302.
After retiring from the Army, Mr. Damon was an instructor with Fayetteville Technical Institute at Ft. Bragg, NC. He graduated with a BS in Business Education from Campbell College in 1978. Mr. Damon taught at Western Harnett High School in 1978-79. In 1979 he was selected to become a program director at the Harnett County Board of Education. He served his last ten years with the school system as Director of Vocational-Technical Education. Mr. Damon received a Master’s in Education from North Carolina State University in 1985.
While serving with the Harnett County Schools, he was a member of the Harnett County School-To-Work Committee and was responsible for establishing the CCCC Harnett County Campus. He served as Chairman of the CCCC Harnett County Campus Advisory Council for 10 years until his retirement from the Harnett County Schools in 1997. Mr. Damon was selected by Gov. Hunt to serve on the State Educational Advisory Committee and State Vocational Education Advisory Committee. State Superintendent Craig Phillips selected Mr. Damon to serve on the State Committee for development of the Competency Based Vocational Education. The then Superintendent of Schools, Bob Etheridge selected Mr. Damon to serve on the State Professional Reviews Committee for six years.
Don maintained that the two greatest events in his life were when he met and married Jewel and in 1972 when he totally committed his life to Jesus Christ.
Mr. Damon was a member of Swann Station Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon.
He is survived by his wife of over 58 years, Jewel Dennis Damon of the home; daughters Donna Ferguson and husband, Navy Captain (Ret.) John Ferguson, and Denise Cameron; a son Donald H. Damon Jr. and wife Wendy of Sanford; brothers Leland H. Damon Jr. and wife Joyce of Ocala, FL, William L. Damon and wife Esther of Rushford, NY and Douglas Damon and wife Jo of Texas; eight grandchildren; eight nephews and thirteen nieces. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by Sisters Phyllis Gifford, Martha Jeanne Fleming, Damaris Damon Serrano and Brother Richard A. Morrison; and his late son-in-law Tony Cameron.
A funeral service will be conducted on Friday, December 1st at Swann Station Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 12-1PM in the church sanctuary. The funeral ceremony will follow the visitation at 1 PM with Rev. Russell Blackmon officiating. Burial will follow in the Cameron Grove/Swann Station Baptist Church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Swann Station Baptist Church Women’s Missionary Union or the SSBC Baptist Men at 7592 Highway 87 South Sanford, NC 27332.
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Mr. Damon’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at Sandhills Sentinel.
