RUSLING, Donald Howard (Don)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, October 17, 2009 Donald Howard Rusling, 87, of Dewey, Ariz., passed away Sept. 7, 2009, in Brea, Calif. He was born Sept. 17, 1921, to Charles James and Thelma Rusling in Houston, Texas. He lived in Texas until Feb. 23, 1943, when he entered naval flight school in California. He then served in the Marines, flying missions in the war in the Pacific. He earned the rank of Captain. Don met Nettie Evelyn Robinson at church in Florida. They were married for 54 years until her death in 2003. Don graduated from Texas A&I in May 1948. He later received his master's degree from Texas A&M. Don was an engineer working in aeronautics and aerospace, including the Apollo spacecraft. He later operated a nuclear reactor for Northrop in California and the Atomic Energy commission in Denver, Colo. After retiring, Don and Evelyn moved to Dewey, Ariz. Don remained active at the First Baptist Church in Prescott until his health declined in February 2009. Don is survived by son Michael Rusling of California; daughter Terry and son-in-law Terry Trautloff; and grandsons Brya, Kyle and Neal Trautloff of California. Burial will be Oct. 22, 2009, at the Riverside National Cemetery in California. Information provided by survivors.