Donald Alexander MacWhirter

Weatherford, Texas

Donald (Don) Alexander MacWhirter passed away peacefully in his home, June 24, 2022. He was 91 years old. Don was born October 14, 1930, in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. 

Don received college degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. During his first job as an Aeronautical Engineer with A.V. Roe and Company in Toronto, he met and married Joan Dexter. In Toronto, Don played ice hockey for the Toronto Meteors, and continued to play competitive hockey for many more years. After a job move to Edmonton, Alberta, Don was recruited by the Boeing Company in Seattle Washington, where Don helped design many of Boeing’s new jet powered aircraft that re-defined modern commercial aviation. 

Eventually Don and Joan settled in Renton, Washington, where they raised their two children, Susan, and Bruce. In his spare time, Don coached competitive Junior hockey teams within the Seattle community and enjoyed time working on his sports cars. For the remainder of his career, Don worked for the Commercial Airplane Division and the Boeing Aerospace Division of The Boeing Company, retiring after 43 years of service. 

Don finished his career at Boeing in Space Systems Integrations working on numerous projects for NASA, and the US Department of Defense. After retiring from The Boeing Company in 1995, Don and Joan moved to Weatherford, Texas in 2005, where they have lived for the past 17 years.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Mary MacWhirter, and brother, Barrie MacWhirter.

Don is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joan; daughter, Susan Overcash (Craig); son, Bruce MacWhirter (Denise); grandchildren, Jacob MacWhirter and Allyson MacWhirter (fiancé Jack Powers); and brother, Bill MacWhirter. 

The family would like to thank Margie, Terry, Debbie, Janett, and Lisa for their love and tireless devotion.

The family asks that those who wish to honor Don, in lieu of flowers, make a donation in honor and memory of Don MacWhirter to a Children’s Hospital of your choice or to the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter capital campaign.