Donald Cletus Gerling

Donald "Papaw" Cletus Gerling

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.