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72 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2024 | Friends we will miss Submit your Friends We Will Miss to sunlakesnews@yahoo.com. Please keep remembrances to 400 words and include one recent, high-resolution photo. Don Savacool USAF Lt Col (Retired) Donald Joe Savacool passed away July 8, 2023 at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Don was born in Camden, Arkansas on September 20,1945 to Willie Mae Benson and Joseph Admire Savacool. He spent most of his first year of life living on the family farm, known as the Free-o Farm in the "feed house" while the family home was being built by his father and 16-year-old brother Richard Daniel Savacool, who proceeded him in death on October 8,1997. After graduating from Harmony Grove High School in 1962 at 16 years old and valedictorian of his class, Don began college at Southern State College in Magnolia, Arkansas. Don married Anita Juandell Thomasson on August 27, 1965 in Camden, Arkansas. After graduating from college in 1966, Don worked until he turned 21 and could attend the USAF Officer's Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. It was the beginning of 23 years of service, where he and Anita would move regularly, while raising their two children, Donna Elaine Savacool and Michael Joseph Savacool. During his career, Don earned his MBA from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He retired from Norton AFB in San Bernardino, CA in 1989. Don developed a passion for golf and, upon retiring from the Air Force, earned AA degrees in Golf Course and Turf Grass Management. He worked in golf for 18 years, spending his last 12 at Redlands Country Club before retiring in 2007. Don and Anita spent seven years of retirement (and 55,000 miles) traveling on motorcycle from their home base in Georgetown, TX. They enjoyed visiting friends and family on journeys around the US, Canada, and Mexico. During that time Don, became a member of the Patriot Guard, an organization that ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen military heroes, first responders and honorably discharged Veterans. Don is survived by his wife, Anita Savacool, his children, Donna Barkley (Steve) and Michael Savacool (Amy), his three grandchildren, Anna and Robby Savacool, and Jackson Barkley, as well as his niece, Tammy Allen. There will be a ceremony with military honors for the family. If you would like to honor Don, please consider a donation to the Patriot Guard at www.patriotguard.org/donate. Susan Banks Huff Greet Susie, as her friends called her, was a beautiful lady with many talents. She was born in Minnesota on Jan 3, 1945, to Stanley and Elva Banks. She is survived by her husband, James Greet; her four brothers David, James, Mark, and Steve Banks; her two sons, Allen and Aaron Huff; daughter-in-law Cathleen Huff; and grandson Daniel Huff. She started piano lessons at age five and learned to play by sight and by ear. Later in life, she gave piano lessons and played music in restaurants (where she could not afford to eat) as well as in rest homes and churches. For many years she was in private business operating coin laundries. In 1986, her family of four (including two young boys) walked across America starting on the beach in Ventura, CA and ending on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Yorktown, VA. After their walk, they were honored to meet President Ronald Reagan in the White House. Three years ago, she married her love, Jim Greet, and the two of them traveled across country by car to relatives and friends several times. They honeymooned in Hawaii and freely gave their time to help their home church. Susie loved music and wrote witty and soulful poems which she shared with her fellow Sun Lakers at Arlene's Breakfast Club. She was a member of the Chorale and delighted her friends with her beautiful voice. To say that we will miss her is an understatement. She gave freely of herself supporting her church and her friends, and those she didn't even know with her testimony of Jesus. She suffered a heart attack on March 3, and passed away on March 4 in Palm Springs, CA. She was 79 years young.

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