Don Draper passed away while vacationing in Germany on December 22, 2012. Don was born in Austin, Texas. He enlisted in the Navy in 1960 and began his impressive diving career in 1961. He served in a variety of diving commands around the Pacific including two operational tours in South Vietnam. There he earned the Bronze Star Medal with the Combat "V", the Navy Commendation Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals with Combat "V", two Purple Heart Medals for wounds received in combat and some twenty additional medals and awards. In 1977, he was selected for the coveted qualification of Master Diver, the highest warfare qualification obtainable by a member of U.S. Navy diving community. He was later promoted to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer and completed countless more world-wide operational assignments as dive-team leader.

After serving his country for twenty-eight years, Don retired from naval service. He then embarked on a successful second career as a stock broker/investment counselor with Wells Fargo Advisors, formerly A.G. Edwards, advancing to First Vice President and Branch Manager, where he served for an additional twenty five years.

Although his final resting place will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Wilson Funeral Home in Panama City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald W. and Melba Draper. He is survived by his loving wife of 10 years, Paula, his beloved son and daughter Brandon Stafford Draper of Panama City and Suzanne Catherine Draper of Orlando and his sister, Anita Pyle of Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mark V Monument Project c/o Dave Sullivan, 501 BLUE HERON DRIVE
PANAMA CITY FLORIDA 32404.