Donald R. Jukes, WB3LQP SK Donald R. Jukes of Moon Township, PA, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2010 after fighting a series of lingering illnesses. Born June 20, 1929 in Coraopolis, he was the son of Robert E. Jukes, Lydia (Kohl/Jukes) Zimmer and stepfather, Edward Zimmer, also of Coraopolis. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Harry Jukes of Picayune, LA, and a sister, Patricia (Zimmer) Brennan of Tampa. As a youth, Donald was known by his friends to be a bit wild, but had a reputation for playing both football and basketball for the Moon High Tigers. He was awarded a scholarship to play basketball at Westminster College, but turned it down to join the Army as World War II was ending and his older brother was serving in the Navy. In the Army, he worked in the intelligence service, monitoring communications from various unspecified hostile governments and he is suspected to have been on missions which penetrated lines in former East Germany. Also in the Army, he played basketball for his unit, serving on many championship teams. The most prestigious event for his team was an Inter-Army rivalry tournament for which his team was flown through the Berlin Blockade to entertain the troops in Berlin. After leaving the Army, Donald joined the National Security Agency and traveled with the diplomatic corps, serving officially as a courier and communications specialist, sometimes working closely with the CIA. He was assigned to several foreign embassies, including Nicosia, Cypress and Caracas, Venezuela. His wife, Velma, usually accompanied him during his periods of Foreign Service and three of their four children were born on foreign soil. Upon leaving government service, Donald returned with his family to Coraopolis and he went on to serve in a number of managerial positions, including the former Emery Air Freight and the American Can Corporation. After taking disability, he greatly enjoyed being with family, playing chess and cards, and assisting neighbors as he was physically able. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Velma (Hart) Jukes. He is also survived by a very large and loving family which includes his three sons and their wives, Dr. Donald and Ellen of Imperial, Richard and Debbie of Monaca, Robert and Donna of Aliquippa, as well as by a daughter, Linda and her husband Gary Paul of Cape Coral, Fla. Also surviving are grandchildren Robert and Corinne Jukes of Hopewell, Jennifer and Brian Jones of Bel Air, MD, Beth and Justin Schultz of Aliquippa, Kelly and Mike Rock of Industry, Melissa Jukes and her friend, Greg Hancock, Jr. of Atlanta, Amber and John Gartner of Florida and Erin Paul of Florida, and Timothy and Dr. Jenn Jukes of Pittsburgh. He also had doting great-grandchildren, Zachary Jukes, Ian Jones, Brandon, Matthew and Riley Jukes, Annaliese and Liesl Schultz and Aubrey Gartner. Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the COPELAND CORAOPOLIS FUNERAL HOME, 867 Fifth Ave., where a Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. A service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment in Coraopolis Cemetery. https://www.timesonline.com/a936ee70-e445-563c-ab7a-f2e32b79f26d.html
