It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Lt. Gen. Donald L Cromer, USAF (Ret.), on December 18, 2025. Don passed away peacefully at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, from heart failure. He was 89 years old.

Don was born in 1936 in Grand Junction, Colorado, to Alvis and Wilma Cromer. He was the second oldest of eleven children. He was preceded in death by three brothers and is survived by six brothers – Al, Ken, John, Jack, Jim, and David – and his sister, Valeta. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Carole Cromer, who died in Knoxville this past August 2025, as well as his former wives, Sally Cromer, who died in 1997, and Bobbie Cromer, who died in 2022.

Don is survived by his and Sally’s children, Cathy Snow and Melinda Cromer, and by Cathy’s daughters, LeAnn and Jennie. He is also survived by Bobbie Cromer’s children, Clay and Victoria Campbell and their children, Donovan and Jennifer; and Colin and Denise Campbell and their sons, Cory and Cameron; and by Carole Cromer’s children Debbie Papish and her daughter, Brianna; and Mark and Linda Papish and his sons, Brian and Ethan.

Following his graduation from Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, Don attended Washington State University for one year before entering the U.S. Naval Academy. Upon graduating from the Academy in 1959, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force. During a distinguished career, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, where his leadership significantly advanced national aerospace and space exploration, greatly benefiting our country. After his retirement from the Air Force in 1991, Don joined Hughes Space Communications Company, where he served as president from 1993 through 1998. He later built a strong private-sector portfolio consulting globally on several boards.

Don’s drive and work ethic extended beyond his military and satellite career and were equally evident in his personal life. He was a builder and creator with a lifelong willingness to give back by helping others. An avid golfer and bridge player, he especially enjoyed sharing these interests with his wife and partner, Carole. Don also volunteered his time in support of many causes, most notably with the Optimist Club of Knoxville, where he served as trustee for the club’s scholarship program.

Don will be remembered at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on January 23, 2026. In memory of Don, scholarship donations to the Knoxville Optimist Club at www.knoxoptimist.org would be a meaningful tribute.