Donald C. Carlson

A lifelong Chautauqua County resident, he was born on December 17, 1924 in Mayville, the son of the late Andrew A. Carlson Jr. and Ruth Buxton Carlson.

Upon graduating from Mayville Central School in 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He became a radio operator on a B-29 Super Fort and was stationed in the South Pacific on the island of Tinian until the war ended. He had many a riveting tale to tell of the days he spent serving his country through December of 1945. A highlight of his service in the Pacific theater was on V-J Day, flying cover with his crew and nearly one thousand other B-29s and various planes over Tokyo Bay and the Battleship Missouri while the surrender of Japan was being formalized.

Later, he graduated from the University of Buffalo with a B.S. in Business Administration. He also took post-graduate courses at U. B., the American Management Associations, and the Cornell University intraining management program. He started his career in the general offices of the Welch Grape Juice Corporation as a cost accountant. He became an office manager before leaving to become the Deputy County Clerk in charge of the motor vehicle bureau. He later became Deputy Commissioner of the Social Services Departments as the director of administrative services, and acting County Commissioner before retiring in 1989.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mayville, where he had served as on its Vestry. He enjoyed his memberships in the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, the Vikings, Ingjald Lodge #65, the War Vets Recreation Inc., and former membership in the Thule Lodge #127. Moreover, he was active in the American Legion, Post #493 in Mayville, and was a lifetime member and a past commander. He was also active in village politics and served on the village board before becoming Mayor of Mayville from 1965 to 1971. As mayor, Don was instrumental in facilitating many improvements including the D.P.W. building, drilling water wells, securing additional storage capacity for the water department, and posting the signs welcoming folks to the village of which he was so proud.

He was a sports fan and had season tickets for the Buffalo Bills for many years. He enjoyed travel, good food and drink, and loved playing golf, particularly at the Chautauqua Golf Club, where he was a member for many years. He will be remembered as a generous, loving husband, father, and grandfather who had a quick and witty sense of humor.

He is survived by his daughters, Frances Lee Carlson of Mayville, and Mary Marshall (husband Bill), of Corte Madera, CA as well as his son Andrew Carlson (wife Dana), of Muscatine, IA. He is also survived by his grandson, Caleb and granddaughter, Chelsea of Muscatine, IA.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his amazing wife of 65 years, Evelyn, who died on December 16, 2015, his two brothers, Charles E. “Chuck” Willson and John A. “Jack” Carlson, and his sister, Dorothy C. “Dot” Jones.

The funeral will be held on Friday, August 2, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mayville (99 S. Erie St). Father Richard Elberfeld will officiate. Burial will be in the Mayville Cemetery where military honors will be given by the Mayville American Legion Post 493 and the Mayville VFW Post 8647. Calling hours will be on Thursday, August 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Freay Funeral Home (139 S. Erie St, Mayville).

Memorials may be made to Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmont Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750.

To leave a remembrance or post a condolence to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com.