Col. Donn A. Byrnes (RET.)

Col. Donn A. Byrnes (RET.)

  • January 23, 2012
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Memories & Candles

“Sparks, What a neat man! What a neat couple! I think I was in second grade when you were my art teacher. The craziest thing was, my parents knew...Read More » ”
1 of 27 | Posted by: Mitzi Alexander Titzer - CO

“Donn was always such a great friend to I & Linda. Sparks we missed him at the last F-15 Reunion and we looked forward to seeing Donn and you, Sparks. ”
2 of 27 | Posted by: Arthur (Art) & Linda Charles - FL

“Uncle Donn was awesome! He created so much excitement when he flew over our house in Eldorado. I remember his two huge dogs. Even though he and my...Read More » ”
3 of 27 | Posted by: Janet Hicks - Cibolo, TX - Niece

“I met Donn in person only once, and that was at the 2005 Roadrunners Reunion. I was impressed then by his smile and his warmth. Later on, we...Read More » ”
4 of 27 | Posted by: Joe Ventolo, Jr. - Enon, OH

“Uncle Don played such a huge role in my childhood. He shared his exploits in aviation and went dove hunting with us. His energy was contagious and...Read More » ”
5 of 27 | Posted by: Beverly Farrell - San Marcos, TX

“I first met Donn while I was writing and rewriting a WWII story. He was a wonderful resource for information, and he was more than willing to go...Read More » ”
6 of 27 | Posted by: Penny Durant - Albuquerque, NM

“Uncle Donn visited with my family and me for just a few hours this past October. It was a wonderful visit, as all visits with him are. We were all...Read More » ”
7 of 27 | Posted by: Scotia - Beaumont, CA

“Donn was a true gentleman with a great deal of wit and intelligence and a delightful and unique personality. He was truly a talented writer, and I...Read More » ”
8 of 27 | Posted by: Paula Paul - Albuquerque, NM

“My prayers will be for Donn and his family. He was a wonderful gentleman. My husband Gil Martinez thought the world of Donn. They always had...Read More » ”
9 of 27 | Posted by: Regina Martinez - Albuquerque, NM

“I still can't believe it. Stunned. I met Donn maybe 15 years ago and was fortunate enough to read his books, become friends with him & Sparks...Read More » ”
10 of 27 | Posted by: Kelly D. Williams - Placitas, NM

“I remember how much Don loved Sparks. He was a true Gentleman. She had a request he would say, "Yes Mam", and get right to it. ”
11 of 27 | Posted by: Helma Murton - Albuquerque, NM

“Donn was an amazing man and we are blessed to have know him. Reading his autobiography helped us even more to know the real Donn. Our last visit...Read More » ”
12 of 27 | Posted by: Sharon and Max Chastain - NM

“Donn: Thank you for being my friend and sharing experiences and memories that had deep and special meaning to both of us, while serving our country,...Read More » ”
13 of 27 | Posted by: Bill Norris - Albuquerque, NM

“Sparks, we are so sorry for your loss. Donn was such a wonderful person, he will be missed but I know that you have a lot of wonderful memories to...Read More » ”
14 of 27 | Posted by: Faye Joy - La feria, TX - Friend

“Helma & I backed into a relationship w/ Donn through Sparks (that's a story in itself). We've hosted & been hosted by Donn & Sparks for several...Read More » ”
15 of 27 | Posted by: mark murton - Albuquerque, NM

“George Bernard Shaw once said, "Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I've got hold of for the moment, and I want to...Read More » ”
16 of 27 | Posted by: Joan Adams-Kopnisky

“My heart aches for Donn's family and friends. I'm honored to count myself among them. We've lost a wonderful human being, but how blessed we were...Read More » ”
17 of 27 | Posted by: Carole Alexander - Sun City West, AZ

“Dear Aunt Sylvia, we were saddened to learn of Donn's death on Monday, and wish we could be with you and the rest of the family this weekend and on...Read More » ”
18 of 27 | Posted by: Cathy and Frank Harbison and family - LA

“Don and are were so sad to hear about Donn, and have so many fond memories of him. Mostly I remember his tremendous curiosity and love of life. He...Read More » ”
19 of 27 | Posted by: Mary Kay Stein - Tucson, AZ

“I can't begin to tell you, the family, how much Donn's friendship has meant to me. We met via the Roadrunners and shared our books and our memories...Read More » ”
20 of 27 | Posted by: Jeannette Remak - sunnyside, NY

“My wife and I first met Donn and his wife Sparks in Tucson back in February 2002 at the SR-71 Symposium at the Pima Air Museum. Donn had encouraged...Read More » ”
21 of 27 | Posted by: George Vaiciunas - Chicago, IL

“What a marvelous example of God's best works on earth. Donn was such a gentleman, scholar and friend of all he met. His presence in our SR-71...Read More » ”
22 of 27 | Posted by: Patrick Halloran - CO

“Donn's books and his presentations at the SR-71 symposiums have been extraordinarily interesting and an inspiration to us all! God Bless Donn and his...Read More » ”
23 of 27 | Posted by: Thomas Charters - Davis, CA

“Sparks, Kathleen and the rest of the family- Words can't express my feelings of Donn -- a man among men. Author, pilot, engineer, husband, father...Read More » ”
24 of 27 | Posted by: Wendell Jones - Los Ranchos, NM

“Although Donn & Sparks have known my parents for many years, I recently became acquainted with Donn when he was helping my parents get settled into...Read More » ”
25 of 27 | Posted by: Wanda Umber - Albuquerque, NM

“I met Donn some years ago at an SR-71 symposium in Tucson. He was one of the greatest guys I have ever known. Through the years that I knew him, we...Read More » ”
26 of 27 | Posted by: TSgt (Ret) Glenn R. Chapman - AZ

“On behalf of the French Family of Companies we wish to express to you our deepest condolences. ”
27 of 27 | Posted by: Kirbye Davis - Albuquerque, NM


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COL. DONN A. (RET.) BYRNES
1931 - 2012 Donn Byrnes left us to be with the Lord on Monday, January 23, 2012. The eldest son of Gen. Victor Byrnes, M.D. and Ethel Seebach, he embraced early the joy of learning and understanding how things worked. Fascinated with airplanes and flight, Donn joined the Air Force at 19 and became a pilot. He later graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Electrical Engineering and enjoyed a challenging career as an aeronautical engineer and technical program manager. Donn found life incredibly interesting and devoured "how to" books on any topic that transformed one thing into another. He taught himself to weld, cast jewelry and machine with a lathe. He designed and fabricated a one man submarine, a boat, water skis, computers, a glider, and a house (with his second wife, Sparks), just to name a few projects. He loved putting together cars, trucks and motorcycles that were terribly fun to drive but not particularly safe. Everything and anything could be (and should be) transformed into something new. Junk yards, pawn shops, a welder and a shop provided the makings for New Things. He also loved photography and developing his own photographs, reloading his own bullets, locksmithing, surveying and repairing anything that was broken. After retiring, he took a correspondence course in writing. At 68, he published Blackbird Rising - Birth of an Aviation Legend, a book about the SR-71. At 76, he published Air Superiority Blue - The F-15 Story and at 79, his autobiography, A Boy Who Loved Airplanes. He loved hearing other people's stories, interviewing people on various topics and was at work on a mystery novel. He would have loved Storage Wars and Dirty Money but he didn't have much time for TV. The cancer took him quickly - so quickly he missed his first appointment with the oncologist. He passed away peacefully and pain free surrounded by loved ones. And he would want you to know, he was grateful for you and your friendship. Donn is survived by his wife, Sylvia "Sparks" Byrnes; his sister, Diane Thompson; his four daughters and their spouses, Kathleen and Dan Johns, Kim and Barry Syra, Connie and Mark Knauss and Karen Allen; step-children and their spouses, Phyllis and Claude Tarbell, Peggy and Bob Robey, and Arthur Tennyson; his step-brother, Frank Presson and wife, Jackie; and, of course, everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. Please join us to celebrate Donn's life on Monday, January 30, 2012, 10:00 a.m., at French-Lomas Chapel., with visitation one hour prior to the service from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to Joy Junction or the local Wounded Warriors Project.