Donald E. Redifer

Donald E. Redifer

Donald E. Redifer, a longtime mechanical engineer with Hughes Tool Co. and a World War II veteran, died April 15, 2007 after a valiant battle against cancer. He was 82.

Redifer was born April 22, 1924 in Crookston, Neb., the younger of two children of Gilbert Edward and Anna Fisher Redifer. He spent his childhood on his parent's ranch near Van Tassell.

He was a pupil at Pleasant Lawn Country School Goshen County and graduated from Torrington High School in 1941. Redifer attended the University of Wyoming on a full scholastic scholarship, earning a degree with honors in mechanical engineering. He served in World War II in the Army Infantry, Company E, and 342nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Division, as a mortar man in a weapons platoon. He served in both the European and Pacific theaters. He was proud to have been a member of the American Legion Post No. 1, Van Tassell, for 61 years.

After the death of Claudia, his wife of 52 years and the mother of his two children, Dennis and Marcia, he married Grace Talley-Redifer in April 2002.

Don, who lived much of his life in Houston and The Meadows in Stafford, then moved to Grace's farm near Orchard. He and Grace shared a wonderful five years of marriage, which they celebrated a week before Don's death. The couple traveled to Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming, North Carolina, and Mexico, among other places. They enjoyed each other, as well as their various church, Masonic, Eastern Star and volunteer activities.

Don is survived by his wife, Grace; son, Dennis Redifer and his wife, Peggy, of Phoenix; daughter, Marcia Redifer, of Phoenix; grandsons, Cameron Redifer, of London, England, and Dane and Kevin Redifer of Phoenix; sister, Louise Torrance of Torrington; step-daughters, Merrie Talley-Pope of Rosenberg, and Olive Talley of Dallas; former sister-in-law, Thalia Thompson of Houston; and numerous nieces, nephews, and former in-laws. Honorary pallbearers are the United Methodist Men.

He will be buried in a private service at the Woodlawn Garden of Memorial Cemetery in Houston.

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