Lt. Col. Donald M. Laffoon, 88, of Madisonville, KY passed away at 12:47 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 at Baptist Health Madisonville.

He was born on September 7, 1925 in Daniel Boone, KY in Hopkins County. Donald was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 during his senior year at Nortonville High School. He spent close to twenty-eight years in the Army and was a Combat Veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Lieutenant Colonel Laffoons awards include: Combat Infantry Badge 2nd Award, Glider Badge, Expert Marksman Rifle, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Europe, Africa and Middle East Campaign Medal with one Bronze Campaign Star, World War II Victory Medal, World War II Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with five Campaign Stars, Vietnam Service Medal with three Campaign Stars, Korean Defense Medal, United National Korean Service, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and six Overseas Service Bars.

Between World War II and the Korean War Donald met his future wife in 1946 on a bus trip to Chicago. Delois and Donald dated for two years and were married Christmas Eve in 1948. Donald used his G.I. Bill and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1950 with a degree in agriculture. During his military career Donald raised two sons, George H. and Donald W. Laffoon. He was supportive in their scouting activities and served as a cub master, scout master and several troop committee positions.

After retirement from the military Donald returned to Madisonville to take care of his mother and step-father. Donald began a second career with the Kentucky Employment Office and worked twenty years on job placement for Veterans. In his spare time Donald enjoyed boating and raising a garden. Along with his wife he took care of his wife's parents at his home. Growing up in the depression and not having much Donald made sure his grandchildren were not deprived.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Herbert Laffoon and Mary E. Lanier; his sisters, Lottie Cozart Hammonds, Ellen Lantrip and Wanda Mudd; and his wife, Delois Westerfield Laffoon just short of their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his sons, George H. Laffoon of Palatine, IL and Donald W. (Barbara) Laffoon of Madisonville; his grandchildren, Rachel Williams and Alex Laffoon; his great-grandchildren, Amber Williams, Max Williams and Nikolas Perez.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Dr. Bob Morrison officiating. Burial will follow in Lanier Cemetery in Crofton, Ky. Full Military Honors will be conducted graveside by 101st Airborne Division Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour Wednesday at Harris Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in Donald's memory to the Activity Dept. at the Eddie Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY or to any Veteran Association of the donors choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.