Donald Ray Puddy, 67, died at home on November 22, 2004 after a brief illness with cancer. He was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma on May 31, 1937 to Mildred and Lester Puddy. He is survived by his wife, Dana, of 48 years, his son, Michael and wife Kathryn, son Douglas and wife Cheryl, son Glenn and wife Stacy, Sister, Carol Keathly of Ponca City and six grandchildren, Randy Blum, Breann Puddy, Dana Marie Puddy, Lauren Puddy, Haley Puddy and Hannah Puddy. His wife is the former Dana Timberlake, daughter of the late M.D. and Cornelia Timberlake, also of Ponca City.
Don served in leadership positions at Ponca City High School (Class of 1955), was awarded a four-year scholarship from Conoco Oil Company and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served a tour of duty in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base where he was involved in rocket high-altitude research. In 1964 he came to Houston to begin a thirty-one year career with NASA. During Gemini IX, the preparatory program for lunar missions, he served as an Agena systems engineer traveling to the remote tracking site in Canarvon, Australia. During the Apollo XI landing on the moon, Don was responsible for monitoring the systems of the Lunar Module. In 1972, Don was named a Flight Director for Apollo 16, served as Flight Director for Skylab, the Approach and Landing Test flights, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and as entry Flight Director for the first two shuttle orbital flights-STS-1 and STS-2. During this period, he also received an M.B.A. Degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He later moved into senior management duties and served for a brief time as Acting Deputy Director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California. Following the tragic Challenger accident, he was assigned to NASA Headquarters and in 1987, President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the Meritorious Executive award for sustained superior accomplishment in the management of U.S. government programs. In preparation for shuttle flights to resume, Don assumed the position of Director of Flight Crew Operations where he was responsible for the management and direction of flight crews, selection of new astronaut candidates, and the Shuttle Program aircraft operations. During this time, he attended the Harvard International Advanced Management Program and was again detailed to Washington, D.C. He concluded his career at JSC as a special assistant responsible for developing joint activities for the U.S./Russian space programs serving as the U.S. co-chairman of the Crew Exchange Working Group for the Phase 1 Joint U.S./Russian Program.
Don was the recipient of numerous awards during his government service-including five exceptional Service medals, the Medal of Freedom for Apollo XIII and an Outstanding Leadership Medal for STS-26.
Following his retirement in1995, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, organizing reunions of Apollo systems groups, and especially spending time with his six grandchildren, whom he adored. He was honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in September of 2002.
Family visitation will be at James Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, on Friday, November 26, 2004 from 5:00-7:00 pm with a funeral service at Seabrook United Methodist Church located on Hwy. 146 at 3:30 pm on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Interment will be in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice staff for the kind and compassionate care they gave Don and the family. Memorials may be made to: American Cancer Society , PO Box 570127, Houston, Tx. 77257-0127 or the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, Mail Code: AMF, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899.
Trout Funeral Home
Don served in leadership positions at Ponca City High School (Class of 1955), was awarded a four-year scholarship from Conoco Oil Company and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served a tour of duty in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base where he was involved in rocket high-altitude research. In 1964 he came to Houston to begin a thirty-one year career with NASA. During Gemini IX, the preparatory program for lunar missions, he served as an Agena systems engineer traveling to the remote tracking site in Canarvon, Australia. During the Apollo XI landing on the moon, Don was responsible for monitoring the systems of the Lunar Module. In 1972, Don was named a Flight Director for Apollo 16, served as Flight Director for Skylab, the Approach and Landing Test flights, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and as entry Flight Director for the first two shuttle orbital flights-STS-1 and STS-2. During this period, he also received an M.B.A. Degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He later moved into senior management duties and served for a brief time as Acting Deputy Director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California. Following the tragic Challenger accident, he was assigned to NASA Headquarters and in 1987, President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the Meritorious Executive award for sustained superior accomplishment in the management of U.S. government programs. In preparation for shuttle flights to resume, Don assumed the position of Director of Flight Crew Operations where he was responsible for the management and direction of flight crews, selection of new astronaut candidates, and the Shuttle Program aircraft operations. During this time, he attended the Harvard International Advanced Management Program and was again detailed to Washington, D.C. He concluded his career at JSC as a special assistant responsible for developing joint activities for the U.S./Russian space programs serving as the U.S. co-chairman of the Crew Exchange Working Group for the Phase 1 Joint U.S./Russian Program.
Don was the recipient of numerous awards during his government service-including five exceptional Service medals, the Medal of Freedom for Apollo XIII and an Outstanding Leadership Medal for STS-26.
Following his retirement in1995, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, organizing reunions of Apollo systems groups, and especially spending time with his six grandchildren, whom he adored. He was honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in September of 2002.
Family visitation will be at James Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, on Friday, November 26, 2004 from 5:00-7:00 pm with a funeral service at Seabrook United Methodist Church located on Hwy. 146 at 3:30 pm on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Interment will be in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice staff for the kind and compassionate care they gave Don and the family. Memorials may be made to: American Cancer Society , PO Box 570127, Houston, Tx. 77257-0127 or the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, Mail Code: AMF, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899.
Trout Funeral Home
Donald Ray Puddy, 67, died at home on November 22, 2004 after a brief illness with cancer. He was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma on May 31, 1937 to Mildred and Lester Puddy. He is survived by his wife, Dana, of 48 years, his son, Michael and wife Kathryn, son Douglas and wife Cheryl, son Glenn and wife Stacy, Sister, Carol Keathly of Ponca City and six grandchildren, Randy Blum, Breann Puddy, Dana Marie Puddy, Lauren Puddy, Haley Puddy and Hannah Puddy. His wife is the former Dana Timberlake, daughter of the late M.D. and Cornelia Timberlake, also of Ponca City.
Don served in leadership positions at Ponca City High School (Class of 1955), was awarded a four-year scholarship from Conoco Oil Company and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served a tour of duty in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base where he was involved in rocket high-altitude research. In 1964 he came to Houston to begin a thirty-one year career with NASA. During Gemini IX, the preparatory program for lunar missions, he served as an Agena systems engineer traveling to the remote tracking site in Canarvon, Australia. During the Apollo XI landing on the moon, Don was responsible for monitoring the systems of the Lunar Module. In 1972, Don was named a Flight Director for Apollo 16, served as Flight Director for Skylab, the Approach and Landing Test flights, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and as entry Flight Director for the first two shuttle orbital flights-STS-1 and STS-2. During this period, he also received an M.B.A. Degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He later moved into senior management duties and served for a brief time as Acting Deputy Director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California. Following the tragic Challenger accident, he was assigned to NASA Headquarters and in 1987, President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the Meritorious Executive award for sustained superior accomplishment in the management of U.S. government programs. In preparation for shuttle flights to resume, Don assumed the position of Director of Flight Crew Operations where he was responsible for the management and direction of flight crews, selection of new astronaut candidates, and the Shuttle Program aircraft operations. During this time, he attended the Harvard International Advanced Management Program and was again detailed to Washington, D.C. He concluded his career at JSC as a special assistant responsible for developing joint activities for the U.S./Russian space programs serving as the U.S. co-chairman of the Crew Exchange Working Group for the Phase 1 Joint U.S./Russian Program.
Don was the recipient of numerous awards during his government service-including five exceptional Service medals, the Medal of Freedom for Apollo XIII and an Outstanding Leadership Medal for STS-26.
Following his retirement in1995, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, organizing reunions of Apollo systems groups, and especially spending time with his six grandchildren, whom he adored. He was honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in September of 2002.
Family visitation will be at James Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, on Friday, November 26, 2004 from 5:00-7:00 pm with a funeral service at Seabrook United Methodist Church located on Hwy. 146 at 3:30 pm on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Interment will be in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice staff for the kind and compassionate care they gave Don and the family. Memorials may be made to: American Cancer Society , PO Box 570127, Houston, Tx. 77257-0127 or the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, Mail Code: AMF, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899.
Trout Funeral Home
Don served in leadership positions at Ponca City High School (Class of 1955), was awarded a four-year scholarship from Conoco Oil Company and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served a tour of duty in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base where he was involved in rocket high-altitude research. In 1964 he came to Houston to begin a thirty-one year career with NASA. During Gemini IX, the preparatory program for lunar missions, he served as an Agena systems engineer traveling to the remote tracking site in Canarvon, Australia. During the Apollo XI landing on the moon, Don was responsible for monitoring the systems of the Lunar Module. In 1972, Don was named a Flight Director for Apollo 16, served as Flight Director for Skylab, the Approach and Landing Test flights, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and as entry Flight Director for the first two shuttle orbital flights-STS-1 and STS-2. During this period, he also received an M.B.A. Degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He later moved into senior management duties and served for a brief time as Acting Deputy Director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California. Following the tragic Challenger accident, he was assigned to NASA Headquarters and in 1987, President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the Meritorious Executive award for sustained superior accomplishment in the management of U.S. government programs. In preparation for shuttle flights to resume, Don assumed the position of Director of Flight Crew Operations where he was responsible for the management and direction of flight crews, selection of new astronaut candidates, and the Shuttle Program aircraft operations. During this time, he attended the Harvard International Advanced Management Program and was again detailed to Washington, D.C. He concluded his career at JSC as a special assistant responsible for developing joint activities for the U.S./Russian space programs serving as the U.S. co-chairman of the Crew Exchange Working Group for the Phase 1 Joint U.S./Russian Program.
Don was the recipient of numerous awards during his government service-including five exceptional Service medals, the Medal of Freedom for Apollo XIII and an Outstanding Leadership Medal for STS-26.
Following his retirement in1995, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, organizing reunions of Apollo systems groups, and especially spending time with his six grandchildren, whom he adored. He was honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in September of 2002.
Family visitation will be at James Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, on Friday, November 26, 2004 from 5:00-7:00 pm with a funeral service at Seabrook United Methodist Church located on Hwy. 146 at 3:30 pm on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Interment will be in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice staff for the kind and compassionate care they gave Don and the family. Memorials may be made to: American Cancer Society , PO Box 570127, Houston, Tx. 77257-0127 or the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, Mail Code: AMF, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899.
Trout Funeral Home
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