Rites Set for Ex-NASA Flight Director Donald Puddy
Posted on: Tuesday, 7 December 2004, 09:00 CST
PONCA CITY -- Donald R. "Don" Puddy, a veteran NASA flight director, died Nov. 22 in Houston. He was 67.
The family will greet friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday at the First Christian Church in Ponca City. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. at Resthaven Memorial Park with military honors presented by the U.S. Air Force. Services are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.
Puddy was born in Ponca City on May 31, 1937, to Mildred and Lester Puddy.
He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in mechanical engineering and served in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base, where he was involved in high-altitude rocket research.
In 1964, he started his 31-year career with NASA's Johnson Space Center, where he became the agency's 10th flight director.
"Don's leadership as a flight director was critical during our transition from Apollo through the early space shuttle flights," Milt Heflin, NASA's chief flight director, said on the agency's Web site. "His diverse talents allowed him to serve NASA and the country in many capacities."
From the spot at the Mission Control console once occupied by NASA legends like Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz, Puddy supervised a number of significant missions, including Apollo moon missions, Skylab space-station flights, the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975 that brought U.S. and Soviet spacecraft together in orbit and the landing of the first shuttle mission in 1981.
His contributions to the nation's space program were recognized by numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in September 2002.
Puddy is survived by his wife, Dana
three sons, Michael Puddy of Houston, Douglas Puddy of San Marcos, Texas, and Glenn Puddy of Dallas
a sister, Carol Keathly of Ponca City
and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.
Source: Tulsa World
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