Donald Delton Metzger

Donald Delton Metzger, age 92, of Fairfield Glade, TN, passed away on July 27, 2025 at his home after a long and well-lived life.

Donald was born on April 27, 1933, in Kenton, OH, the only son of Delton and Margie Metzger. He spent most of his childhood in Toronto, OH, where his father was Principal of the High School.

As a boy, he was known for his ability to repair the then-new televisions of his friends and neighbors. This interest lead to his attending the Ohio State University, graduating with a BSEE degree in 1956. Don then obtained his MSEE at MIT.

Donald’s professional career began at IBM in Owego, NY. He spent the 60’s and 70’s building a career and family. In Owego he worked for IBM’s Federal Systems Division. During the Apollo program, Don worked with Thomas Watson and Wernher Von Braun on details for the compute ring of the Apollo Launch Vehicle.

In 1962 he married Gail G. Papke of Chicago, Illinois, with whom he remained happily united for 63 years, and who was by his side right up until his passing. His two sons Christopher and Stephen were born in 1964 and 1965 while the family lived in Poughkeepsie, NY.

In 1969 he became the Director of the IBM Semiconductor Research and Development Laboratory in Essex Junction, Vermont, which was instrumental in early microchip implementation and mass production.

Also in 1969, Donald welcomed the birth of their daughter Andrea, completing the set of offspring. Don bought a vacation home and property in East Fairfield, Vermont to create a refuge and vacation spot, which served as a touchstone throughout the growth and various relocations of his busy family. Donald cherished the outdoors, the beauty, and the stable of riding toys he kept there.

Don left IBM to join the Timex Corporation as their Vice President of Digital Systems at their headquarters in Middlebury, CT just as digital watches were starting to enter the consumer market, leveraging his microelectronic experience.

Donald joined the Digital Equipment Corporation as Director of New Processes and Technologies, running the Andover facility in the early 1980’s. He remained with DEC until his retirement in 1992.

After retiring, Donald and Gail embraced the RV lifestyle, spending years nomadically traveling all over the US, Canada and Mexico, creating an enormous circle of friends throughout their travels. Wherever they went, Don carried a keyboard with him and rarely missed the opportunity to liven up an event. Music was a major passion throughout his life.

In later years Donald and Gail bounced back and forth between Arcadia, FL, and Fairfield Glade, TN, following the sunshine and the seasons. Everywhere they lived, they joined a local church and became vital and loved members of the congregation. In later years, Don was actually the keyboard player for a number of them, serving not only on Sundays, but for weddings and other events all the way into his nineties.

Donald is survived by his wife Gail, and his children Christopher (April Metcalf), Stephen (Lee Hannigan), and Andrea (Guy Smith), as well as his grandchildren Alexander, Emily, Andrew, and Christine. He has one great-grandchild, Poppy Victoria.

In addition to direct relatives, Don leaves a huge circle of in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors who miss him very much, but will always remember his light.