Donald Lee Hardacre, 85

Donald Lee Hardacre, 85, was born June 1, 1925 and entered heaven on Sept. 30, 2010. He died at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif., after a long battle with heart disease, arthritis and macular degeneration.

He was born in Benton Harbor, Mich., to Leonard and Cora Hardacre and was the oldest of three children. Don served in the Air Force in World War II and in the Navy during the Korean War.

 Don married Martha Ellis on Feb. 4, 1953. They soon traveled west to California to start a new life together. He worked at Rockwell for 32 years as a technical writer with a top secret security clearance concerning missile guidance systems.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Martha; his three children, Steven (Sonoe), Laine and Pam; and his grandchildren, Danielle and Kevin. He also is survived by his sister, Wilma Wood of Sparta, Mich.; and his brother,  Earl, of Orange, Calif. Don, in addition to his loving family, was blessed with longtime friends who love and adore him.

Don enjoyed many happy memories with family and friends since 1968, boating and enjoying the beauty of Lake Pend Orielle, Idaho.

Don was an avid supporter of the Braille Institute of Rancho Mirage. In lieu of flowers, a donation in his honor may be made to the Braille Institute Desert Center, 70-251 Ramon Rd, Rancho Mirage,CA 92770.