Don Chandler

Don Richard Chandler was born to Jack and Beda Chandler in Brady, Texas on June 23, 1924. He attended school in Fort Worth and Brady, graduating from Brady High School in 1941. While studying Industrial Aeronautical Engineering at University of Texas-Arlington, Don decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy in November 1942. Three and a half years of combat missions during World War II took him to both the Atlantic and South Pacific before his honorable discharge in 1946. After the military Don studied commercial art and illustration, earning an art degree from Feather & Feather School of Design in Houston. Shortly thereafter he began his career as a commercial artist for Meyer Brothers Department Store in Houston. Though they both attended Brady schools, Don actually met future wife Wilma Walters at a birthday party for a mutual friend; they married in 1952. In 1953 the couple moved to Galveston where Don embarked on a 51-year career in the newspaper business. He worked for the Galveston Daily News from 1953-58, then for publications owned by Hartman Newspapers in Texas City and Baytown from 1958-1975. During that 17-year period Don was an award-winning artist in advertising layout and design and worked his way up the ranks from advertising salesman to manager to director of advertising for the Texas City Daily Sun. In 1975, Don accepted an opportunity to become general manager and co-owner of the Alvin Advertiser; but when the Chandler''s Alvin home was flooded by a tropical storm in 1979 they had previously had a home flooded by Hurricane Carla in Texas City in 1961 Don and Wilma sold their newspaper interests and moved inland to Brenham. Here Don spent 14 years of full-time employment as assistant publisher of the Banner-Press. After retirement party #1 in 1995, Don remained at the newspaper part-time for another eight years before his second and final retirement in 2003. Don was a talented painter, a meticulous landscaper, a builder of furniture, fences, decks, and swings; he carved canes and logs and painted faces on trees. Mostly, however, he was a faithful Christian, loving husband, devoted father, and dependable friend. Don is survived by his wife Wilma Chandler, daughter Aleda Born, and son-in-law Thomas Born all of Brenham; sisters-in law Margie Anderson of Hext, TX, Eula LaVallee of Dodd City, TX, and Ann Williams of Crockett, TX; brother-in-law J.J. DiVito of Bristol, CT; grandchild Kristyn Edwards of Austin, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, two sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, his mother- and father-in-law, and one grandson. Visitation will be at Memorial Oaks Chapel from 6:00-8:00 PM Tues., Aug. 7. Services will be at the Brenham Church of Christ Wed., Aug. 8 at 10:00 AM. Pallbearers are Wayne Arnold, Richard Fletcher, Lawrence Greer, Phil Holderby, Don Stevens, and J.D. Young. Should you desire, please make any honorary contribution in Don''s name to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements for Don Chandler are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.