In Remembrance: Donald C. Hulbert ’48 Died on June 15 2019

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Donald Corydon Hulbert, 93, passed away on June 15, 2019, with family at his side at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. 

He was born February 23, 1926, in West Haven, Connecticut, to Ernest and Grace Hulbert. He married the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann Wilks of Plainfield, New Jersey, on September 6, 1947; she preceded him in death on August 3, 2016, after nearly 70 years of marriage. Don was a devoted and loving husband who set the bar high for those who followed him. He is survived by his children Barbara Little and Richard Hulbert and his wife Debbie Hulbert; his grandchildren Erin Kerr, Jessie Vaccari, Alicia House, and Brian Hulbert; and great-grandchild Maybel Elizabeth Kerr.

Don was a Navy veteran of WWII and graduated in 1948 from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. He was a registered professional engineer, a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, and served a term as president of the Wing Point Golf & Country Club.

He moved with his family to the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s to assist in the development and construction of the nuclear Trident Naval Submarine Base in Bangor, Washington. Upon completion, he moved to Amelia Island, Florida, to assist in the design and construction of the East Coast nuclear Trident Naval Submarine Base in St. Mary’s, Georgia. His profession took him around the globe to Japan, Guam, the Philippines, various Pacific Islands, Gibraltar, Spain, and England, among others.

Upon retirement he moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington. Don had a great love of trains and used his engineering skills to construct many model train installations. He was an avid puzzler—from decoding work during his military career to jigsaw and crossword puzzles in retirement; he loved mystery novels and golf, and played a mean hand of bridge.

He is remembered as the bedrock of his family, beloved for his quick wit, with an unexpected sense of humor that often took you by surprise. He could always be counted on for wisdom and support. He was deeply loved and will be missed by many.

—Submitted by the family.