Donald Girard Belisle passed away at his home in Burlington, Washington with his loving family at his side on October 27, 2008. Donald was born in Adams, Massachusetts on October 7, 1929 the second of four children born to Wilfred and Irene Belisle. After finishing trade school, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1947 when he was only 17 years old. While stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1950, he met and married his loving wife of 58 years, Beryl Dene Abel. In addition to his eight years in the Navy as a weatherman, Donald worked for over 25 years at Skagit Steel and Iron Works as a machinist in the Gear Department. He also worked part-time for many years after his semi-retirement flagging and loading crop dusting airplanes for his sons. Donald was a very talented craftsman and musician. In his young married years, he took an old, rundown house on Skagit Street in Burlington and remade it into a workingman's mansion for his family complete with a large swimming pool and several additions. Starting as a gifted, part-time bugler in the Navy, Donald later learned to play the guitar and often entertained family and friends with an extensive repertoire of popular songs. Because of an early love of flying, Donald soloed an airplane on his 16th birthday and earned a private pilot license when he was 17 years old. Since childhood, he also loved building and flying radio controlled airplanes. He was an enthusiastic member of the Skagit Valley RC Club and attended many Fly-Ins around the country with his "Plane-Wife" Beryl Dene. Donald is survived by his beloved wife, Beryl Dene, four sons and daughters-in-law, Leonard and Becky Belisle of Mount Vernon, Richard and Teri Belisle of Marysville, Patrick and Tammy Belisle of Mount Vernon, and Kevin and Jody Belisle of Burlington, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister, Rochelle Beckwith, brothers-in-law Wade Schroeder and Joseph Coy, and many dear nieces and nephews. Donald was preceded in death by his brother Leonard Wilfred Belisle, his parents Wilfred and Irene Belisle, and his sister Lucille Coy. Donald was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandpa, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. An open house remembrance will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008 from 2pm to 5pm at the family home in Burlington.