Donald Rex Hayes

Donald Rex Hayes, Lt. Colonel (Ret) U.S.A.F., born December 3, 1928 in Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away Monday April 9, 2012 at 3 p.m. in Birmingham, Alabama. Predeceased by his Parents, Rex Pierce Hayes and Helen Wunderlich Hayes and Son, Mark Reed Hayes. Don had a lifelong love of Aviation. He helped build and fly the first radio controlled model airplane in the State of Arkansas together with his father who was prominent in Aviation in Arkansas. He earned his private pilots wings on his 16th birthday and was affiliated with Civil Air Patrol during World War II. He joined the United States Air Force on January 8, 1951, was commissioned and graduated pilot training on May 10, 1952. On that same date, he married Doris Anne Gray of Little Rock, Arkansas. In September 1952, he went to Korea and completed 100 combat missions as a fighter pilot. During one of these missions, he was Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also flew 85 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He continued to have an active flying career over his 28 years in the Air Force, retiring in January 1979. He went on to serve as Director and Vehicle Fleet Manager for the City of Montgomery retiring in 1994. During the ensuing years he and the love of his life Anne, enjoyed traveling both nationally and internationally and settled in Birmingham, Alabama in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Anne, son, Alan Rex Hayes and wife Kathleen, Daughter Melody Anne Lanham and husband, Lee, daughter, Lana Jo Mawhinney and husband Timothy; grandsons, Kristopher Bowen Porter, Ryan Rex Hayes, Jason Alan Hayes and Grant Mitchell Mawhinney and special friend and sister-in-law, June Heitkotter and husband Jim. Don was a member of Riverchase United Methodist Church. Family will receive friends from 12:30-1 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home on, Friday, April 13, 2012 with the service starting at 1 p.m. Don will be buried with full Military Honors at the Alabama National Cemetery at 2:45 p.m. on Friday. Don was a true patriot believing in, serving God, Country and Family and will be sorely missed by his loved ones. In lieu of flowers the family request's donations be made in Don's memory to Riverchase UMC or the Wounded Warriors or a charity of your choice.