Donald Wayne Meyer, born June 29, 1934, passed away on November 14, 2024 at the age of 90. Don was born in Columbus Indiana, where he grew up with his one brother and three sisters. He attended and graduated from Indiana University in 1957. For all of his life, he was a great fan of Bobby Knight and Indiana University basketball as well as a die hard fan of the St Louis Cardinals, the Cardinals being the closest baseball team to his hometown. After graduating from Indiana University he joined the Navy, attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Finishing OCS, Don was assigned to the Naval Base in Long Beach California to serve on the USS Lyman K Swenson DD 729. It was during his time on the Swenson that he formed his closest friendship, lasting close to 70 years. When Don finished his service in the Navy in 1960, he moved to San Francisco to attend the University of California Hastings. Graduating, and now admitted to the California Bar, he returned to Long Beach to practice law in a private firm, focusing on civil litigation, until his retirement in 1989.
Don was an avid golfer and a fan of the piano bar. In 1960, a special group of golfing buddies got together and started the “Pulley Invitational”, a week long golf tournament of fun, golf and camaraderie. Don first participated in 1964 and rarely missed going over the next 50+ years. He had annual trips to Hawaii for golf with Debbie, and to Scotland with family and friends, forming a lasting relationship with his first caddy in 1976. He had his favorite singing groups that he loyally supported, sitting at the bar just to listen. In 1996 Don and Debbie moved to Ponte Vedra Beach where he continued his trips to Hawaii, to Scotland, to the Pulley and to the piano bars. In 2000 his favorite bar closed so he, along with others, opened his own restaurant and bar to give his favorite piano player and singers a place to play and perform.
Don is survived in death by his wife Debbie of 44 years, his Son Mark and daughter in law Abbie, his grandchildren Madison, Jack and Clayton, his sister Jenni, sister-in-laws Susie and Pam, nieces and nephews and the extended family from his Navy days. Don passed away at home in the loving care of Debbie with the support of Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 or online at thefoundationcares.org/give. A small private service will be planned for family and friends.
