Master Sergeant Michael (Mike) T. Donavon, USAF, Retired, 86 of Troy, IL, born September 21, 1939, in Newark, OH, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 4, 2026, in Edwardsville, IL, at the Chapters Senior Living Residential Community.
Ever the high-achiever, Mike was a life-long learner, possessing an unending curiosity to know how things work and to fix them when they break. He honorably served his country in the United States Air Force retiring as a highly-decorated Master Sergeant with 20 years of active-duty service. Early in his Air Force career, Mike served as a Basic Military Training Instructor at Lackland AFB, TX, where he was one of few to achieve the distinction of Master Instructor. Cross-training into Aircraft Maintenance, Mike quickly distinguished himself as a Master Aircraft Avionics and Radar Systems expert, performing as Avionics Branch Chief and, subsequently, as Instructor/Superintendent of the Aircraft Maintenance Field Training Detachment (FTD) at McGuire AFB, NJ. Throughout his Air Force career, Mike excelled earning distinction as a Distinguished Graduate in nearly all of his technical training courses.
Following his military retirement, Mike retrained, yet again, becoming an expert at TV, VCR and industrial transformer repair and testing. He also returned to McGuire AFB as a Civil Servant working in the same Avionics shop he once supervised and where he was recognized many times for his Sustained Superior Performance. During this time, he also became a licensed private pilot who built and flew 3 experimental aircraft in his spare time. Mike was a recreational skydiver, he loved to fish, and he loved watching his family grow.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Bernice (nee Stevens) Donavon; and his sister, Anne Forgrave.
Surviving is his wife, Charlotte (nee Simonson) Donavon of Petersburg, VA; his son, Mark (Michelle) Donavon of Troy, IL; step-daughter, Debra Cotton (Simonson) of Disputants, VA.; grandchildren, Mark Donavon II of Highland, IL, Shauna Jimenez of Dallas, TX, Dr. James (Mackenzie) Donavon of. Nashville, TN, and Dr. Samuel (Allison) Donavon of Troy, IL; great-grandchildren, Mark III, Keelan and Jaxtyn Donavon, Harper and Javier Jimenez; his brother, Harry (Renee) Donavon of Dallas, TX; and his sister, Rosemary Clark of Westerville, OH; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends around the world.
Memorials may be made to Metro East Humane Society, 8495 IL-143, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.Richesonfh.com.
Mike will be buried at a later date with his wife at Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, VA.