Donald C. Hokanson, 67, of Fredericksburg, VA, died on 3/20/14 of lung cancer.

     He passed away peacefully in his home with his sister and brother-in-law by his side.

     Born in Worcester, MA, on 1/24/47, to his parents, the late N. Chester Hokanson and Helen L. (Smith) Hokanson, Don relocated to Virginia, where he lived for the past 45 years. He lived first in Arlington, and then Annandale, before moving to Fredericksburg 11 years ago.

     Don was a graduate of South High School, in Worcester, class of 1965, and Clark University, in Worcester, class of 1969. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, from October 1969 to October 1971. While in the Marines he worked at the Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, Arlington, VA where he operated IBM 360/20 AUTODIN terminal and associated crypto equipment. He was promoted to CPL, E-4 with Top Secret Clearance and Honorable Discharge.

     From 1971 to 1978 he worked for the American Red Cross, National Headquarters, Washington, D.C. as an Overseas Relay Operator and supervised ten operators in the telephone relay room. Don then went on to become a Senior Field Engineer for Control Data Corporation from 1978 to 1990 in on site and on call environments on IBM large systems mainframes and peripherals. Don continued this line of work from 1990 to 1995 working for Bell Atlantic Business Systems Services.

     For the past 19 years he’s enjoyed pursuing his many and varied hobbies. Always an avid reader and animal lover, his other hobbies included making movies, graphic animation, designing computer games, photography, building rockets, enjoying watching the stunts at the Flying Circus Airshows in Bealeton, VA, live theater, museums, walking historical trails and battlefields, chatting with his precious parakeet, Bluebird Muttonchops, along with his greatest passion, riding roller coasters in Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens. His grand total from the time he started logging his rides from 1998 to 2013 was 35, 694 rides. One of his graphic designs was of a gate opening as though leading to a coaster, but instead the background was blue skies and puffy clouds, which he entitled “Heaven’s Gate.”

     Donald is survived by his sister, Linda A. Kot, and brother-in-law, Stephen J. Kot, of Brewster, MA and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his two brothers, Robert F. Hokanson and David L. Hokanson.

     Burial was private at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton, MA. Donations in Don’s memory can be made to Mary Washington Hospice, 5012 Southpoint Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22407.