Donald Dean Bingaman's Obituary
Donald Dean Bingaman, age 91, of Fort Smith, AR, passed from this life on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Springdale, AR. He was born May 7, 1932, in Brighton, CO., the son of the late Deane E. Bingaman and Ruth Whitsett Bingaman Haas Cabral. Also preceding him in death was his wife of 71 years, Louise G. Bingaman, as well as his brother, Gerald H. Bingaman.
While Don was born to the home of Ruth and Deane Bingaman in Brighton, CO., he was cared for and raised in the loving home of his Aunt and Uncle, Pauline and David Cronland, in Denver, CO. He graduated from South High School in Denver, CO., and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Louise G. Bingaman, on Christmas Eve of 1951. Don served in the Air Force during the Korean War and, after his military service, was employed by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), which by Act of Congress became the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He retired from the FAA with 31 years of service as an Air Traffic Controller at facilities in Amarillo, TX, Dallas, TX, Sherman, TX, Fort Worth, TX, and Fort Smith, AR. While in Amarillo, he was one of the first assigned to the military radar, air-traffic control, and weather facility to provide radar service for the expanding aviation industry. After many years of providing this service at Amarillo AFB and the Strategic Air Command squadron in Amarillo, TX, he was promoted to the terminal radar facility at Perrin AFB in Sherman, TX, which lead him to Dallas Love Field Tower and the Greater Southwest radar facility in Fort Worth, TX. He accepted a promotion to the Fort Smith Tower in 1970 as an Assistant Facility Chief and Area Supervisor. While in Fort Smith, he also served as Acting Facility Chief at Drake Field in Fayetteville, AR, and Hot Springs Tower in Hot Springs, AR. When Fort Smith was selected to be a terminal radar facility/Tower, his radar experience put him in a position to train and certify all of the facility controllers in radar operations and procedures. He worked with technicians and air crews getting the facility radar acceptable for operation, and was the originator of the facility’s first radar operating procedures and vectoring charts. During his 31 years of federal service, he received many personal awards including the "Outstanding Performance Award", two "Special Achievement Awards" and "Quality Performance Award". He also received a formal award of "appreciation" from the Westark Pilots Assn.
Don enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, firearms collecting, and his Golden Retriever companions. He loved to play golf, especially with his two boys, and was a member of the Hardscrabble Men's Golf Association for many years. Don also loved his home on Lake Ouachita at Mt. Harbor Resort and served on the Harbor South Building Committee for several years. After his retirement from the FAA, Don learned the residential appraiser business at Superior Federal Bank and, sometime after licensing, he opened his own "Residential Appraisal" business with his wife, and did appraisal work for several local banks and lending institutions until his retirement in 2007.
He is survived by a half-brother, Wesley L. Haas (Bonnie), a half-sister, Burnadine Dawkins Monroe; two sons, Donald David Bingaman (Alice) and James H. Bingaman (Lacey); six grandchildren, David Bingaman, Daniel Bingaman (Jennifer), Jennie Hayes Kurtz (John), Ellen Leigh Finn (Levi), Mary Lou Sentz (Jack), and Natalie Bingaman; and two great-grandchildren, Asher and Oliver Bingaman. He was also cared for lovingly by private caregivers, Kassey Aldana and Amber Solorzano, and the wonderful staff of Edgewood Health and Rehab in Springdale, AR.
Throughout life, Don and Louise were rarely apart during their 71 years together, and at all times their love for each other was always apparent. The family now celebrates and rejoices over their heavenly reunion. Following a private memorial service, Don’s remains will be scattered in loving memory under his favorite Aspen trees in the high mountains of New Mexico.
To God be the glory in all things, and may there be a peace and comfort that surpasses all understanding to all his family and friends. “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10: 27-28.
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