Donald Hugh Fair — September 4, 1946 – May 30, 2025
Donald Hugh Fair, age 78, passed away peacefully in his home in Mechanicsburg, PA., on Friday, May 30, 2025. He was born on September 4, 1946, in Gettysburg, PA., to Harrison and Marvel Fair. Don grew up in the towns of Brysonia, Gardners, and York Springs.
He is survived by his daughter, Leslie (Fair) Rabian, and her husband, David; son, Gregg, and his wife, Carolyn (Majewski) Fair; grandchildren, Megan (Rabian) Mead and her husband, Alex; Michael Rabian; Cheyenne and Grayson Fair; and great-grandchildren Addy and CJ Mead. He is also survived by his father, Harrison Fair; brother Jeffrey and his wife, Janet; sister Marlea, and her husband, Ed; and friend of the family, Jay Diaz-Auxier. He is predeceased by his wife, Carole (Pipok) Fair, and his mother, Marvel Fair.
Don was proud of the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, and encouraged them to work hard and be faithful.
Don married his first wife, Barbara (Thomas) Fair, and together they had two children: Leslie and Gregg.
Don married his second wife, Carole (Pipok) Fair, in 1983. Together they started and operated Amazing Monograms, a monogramming and embroidery business that served the community for over 20 years. Don and Carole also supported foster care children and hosted foreign exchange students from Germany, Spain, and Brazil.
Don’s father was a share crop farmer, and he learned the value of hard work and determination on the farm in York Springs. He graduated from Bermudian Springs High School in 1964 and went on to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology at DeVry University in Chicago, graduating in 1967.
Don’s degree in Electrical Engineering propelled him into the aerospace age. His first job was at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in California, calibrating satellite guidance systems. He worked primarily on the Agena, a multipurpose spacecraft which provided initial and secondary launch stages. This satellite was used by NASA as a target vehicle for the manned Gemini space capsule, to rendezvous and dock in orbit above the earth, as training for the Apollo Moon landing program. The Agena satellite was also used as a camera platform by the United States Air Force (USAF) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to retrieve photo imagery and radio signal intelligence records during surveillance missions.
After two years in California, he was transferred across the country to work with the United States Air Force at the Grenier Field tracking station in Manchester, N.H. He was a telemetry data support analyst and was quickly promoted to the position of Satellite Operation Command Control Officer. He directed a team who worked together to command and control the orbit of satellite vehicles and retrieve photo imagery and radio signal intelligence records. His work earned him a transfer to the Thule Air Base, a US Air Force installation in Greenland.
Don’s team was directly involved in the support of 127 combat reconnaissance missions, which included the 1967 and 1973 Arab Israeli wars and combat communication support to South Vietnam.
Don also worked as a software engineering consultant for several computer companies, traveling throughout the world supporting products and resolving software application problems.
Don retired in 1998 and became an active member in his community, forming a consulting company focused on athletic field lighting system installations. He served as the General Contractor, installing lighting systems on football fields at Bermudian Springs, Dover, York Suburban, Eastern York and Delone Catholic High Schools.
In 2010, he became a pilot and flew his Cessna 162 Skycatcher to visit friends and family. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and served as Chapter Chairman and pilot for the Young Eagles Program.
He served on the building committee for the construction project for Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Mechanicsburg, PA.
He also worked as a contract Research Analyst for the United States Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA. He truly enjoyed helping people get information for various research projects.
He volunteered as a photo archivist for the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle, PA, where he enjoyed cataloging historical photos.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 from 9AM-11AM at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church 7111 Wertzville Road Mechanicsburg PA 17050.
Services will begin on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 11AM at the church following the viewing.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The Sullivan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Fair family.
www.sullivanfuneralservices.com