10/01/2026
Donald Tomer
1940 - 2026
Donald Michael Tomer, born in his parent's (Henry Albert Tomer Jr. and Anna Grace Diamond Tomer) bedroom in the East End section of Pittsburgh, PA on 23 January 1940 was baptized John Donald Tomer at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He took the name Michael upon receiving the sacrament of confirmation. He attended grade school at Saints Peter and Paul. He sang in the choir and was an alter server. A few months after graduating from Central District Catholic High School in 1958, Donald Michael dropped the name "John" and joined the U.S. Navy as Donald Michael Tomer.
Before joining the Navy, Donnie held several teenage type jobs: paper boy, soda jerk, gas station attendant, Christmas Tree salesman, and grocery store produce and shelf stocker. In 1957, in the Lower Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh, Donne met his beloved future wife, Audrey Marie Terese Moeller. They were both 21 years of age at the time of their marriage on 10 June 1961. The ceremony at All Saints Catholic church in Audrey's home town of Etna, PA bonded these two lovebirds for 51 and 1/2 years. After their 50th anniversary celebration, each signed a promise to devote another 50 years to each other. Sadly, this plan was cut short when Audrey died of cancer on 8 January 2013. For the remainder of his life, Donnie missed and loved Audrey every day.
Donnie, at the time of their marriage, was assigned to Fleet Tactical Support Squadron One (VR-1) at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland as a young Aviation Machinist Mate Second Class in the engine build up shop and as a flight orderly and flight mechanic aboard Convair RY (C131) aircraft. Audrey gave birth to their first daughter, Dawn Michele, on 1 May 1962 at the Navy hospital at Patuxent River. Audrey and Dawn followed Donnie to Millington, TN where he attended Aviation Machinist Mate "R" B School at the Naval Air Technical Training Center.
Following B school and the R-3350-42 engine systems maintenance course taught by Airborne Early Warning Training Unit, Atlantic, at Patuxent River, Donnie and family traveled to Naval Station, Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada. Donnie was assigned to the Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirteen (VW-13) power plants shop. Shortly after Donnie's arrival at Argentia, he was promoted to Aviation Machinist Mate First Class. On occasion Donnie deployed to Naval Station, Keflavik, Iceland maintaining the WV (EC121-K) aircraft. On 9 December 1964, at Argentia, Donnie and Audrey's second daughter, Darlene Marie, was born.
Near the end of Donnie's tour with VW-13, he was assigned to Project Birdseye, a dedicated aircraft (Archie the Arctic Fox) and crew whose mission was to forecast ice conditions north of
Canada to assist in submarine operations at the top of the world. Just prior to the decommissioning of VW-13 the Birdseye aircraft and crew were relocated to NAS, Patuxent River, MD and assigned to a squadron that eventually became Air Development Squadron Eight (VX-8). The year was 1965. The family drove out of Newfoundland on the mostly dirt, mud, and gravel Trans-Canadian Highway. The ferryboat Wm Carson transported them to Nova Scotia and paved highways. After several Birdseye deployments, Donnie was assigned to the Quality Control Branch of VX-8's shore duty component. In 1967, Donnie was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and selected to teach the three-week R-3350-42 Power Plant and Systems maintenance course in the Squadrons Training Department. While in VX-8's Training Department Donnie applied for the Associate Degree Completion Program (ADCOP) and was accepted. The family moved to Corpus Christi, TX. Here Donnie burned a lot of midnight oil to earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science at Del Mar College. The family experienced their first hurricane (Celia, Aug 3, 1970) in Corpus. Donnie was promoted to Senior Chief Aviation Machinist Mate while in Corpus.
Upon completion of ADCOP, Donnie was transferred to Patrol Squadron Forty-Nine (VP-49) at NAS Patuxent River. Audrey and girls stayed in her hometown of Etna, PA while Donnie made a deployment to Keflavik, Iceland. Upon completion of this deployment, VP-49 changed homeport to NAS Jacksonville, FL. While attached to VP-49 the family lived in Orange Park, FL. Shortly after arrival at NAS, Jacksonville, Donnie was promoted to Master Chief Aviation Maintenance Man (AFCM). Donnie served as Maintenance Control Chief and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Command deploying several more times to Keflavik and to Sigonella, Sicily.
Donnie's next and last Navy duty assignment was as Enlisted Officer in Charge of Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment 1029 onboard NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. This activity taught H-1 Huey helicopter maintenance courses and the T-34C primary flight training aircraft familiarization course to students entering Primary Flight Training. Donnie retired from the Navy in January 1980.
While perusing a Bachelor's degree in System Science (Business), i.e., computer programming and analysis, at Pensacola Junior College and The University of West Florida, Donnie worked from 11:OO P.M. to 7:00 A.M. as a Quality Assurance Inspector for Beech Aerospace on board NAS Whiting Field.
In 1985 Donnie graduated Magna Cum Laude from UWF, and began a career as a computer programmer analyst with Management Information Systems Support Activity on board Saufley Field in West Pensacola. The name of his employer changed to Systems Engineering and Technical Services Department by the time he retired from Civil Service in November 2005.
In retirement Donnie's time was happily occupied by spending time with the love of his life and first and only wife, Audrey. Family celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Easters, Thanksgivings, and Christmases brought him immense joy. Home projects (the kitchen remodel was really big), musical, activities, and church services also kept him from boredom.
Donnie loved music. He sang and played saxophones, flute and clarinet. He began singing with the Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church Grade School Choir and while in the Navy continued
singing with the church choirs at each duty station and place of deployment. He was also a member of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. For a number of years, he led the 8:00 A.M. Sunday Mass Choir at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Milton, FL. In later years he was happy and content to simply sing with the St. Rose Choir.
Donnie played tenor saxophone for over twenty-five years with the Pensacola Civic Band. Donnie particularly liked jazz and big band music. He was a key founder, manager and leader of the Little Variety Big Band, performing on alto saxophone, clarinet, and flute for charity events, dance clubs and everything in between.
Donnie considered his family a precious gift from God. Often it didn't show, but he loved them all immensely and was very proud of each of them. They will remember him for his Pap lectures. His final Pap lecture is: Love one another, Be understanding of your loved ones. Be quick to ask for forgiveness - and mean it - making sure not to repeat the offensive behavior or attitude. Do not belittle or put down your loved ones.
Donnie is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 1/2 years, Audrey Marie Terese Moeller Tomer; father, Henry Albert Tomer Jr; mother, Anna Grace Diamond Tomer; brother, Henry Albert Tomer III; and sister, Annabelle Margaret Wienand.
He is survived by daughters, Dawn Michele Pack (Charles Troy) and Darlene Marie Tomer; grandchildren: Stephanie Michele Williams Lukevich (Joshua Aaron), Carl Joseph Shouppe (Chelsea Alyss), Hannah Marie Shouppe Stisser (Brian William), and Laura Anne Williams Hull (Justin Edward); and his great-grandchildren: Adelynn Jade Hull, Jack Michael Lukevich, Scarlett Marie Stisser, Luke Benson Shouppe, Audrey Victoria Hull, Lucy Marie Shouppe, Caroline Noelle Lukevich, and Silas William Stisser.
Donnie’s services will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with the visitation beginning at 9:00 A.M. and the mass at 10:00 A.M. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved Audrey at Barrancas National Cemetery, aboard NAS Pensacola.