Donald Chester Kearns

Donald Kearns was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Glendale, Pennsylvania. His parents were Walter and Margaret Kearns. He had two brothers, Walter and Milton.

After attending elementary and high school in Glendale, he was proud to have attended Mercersburg Academy prior to moving to the West Coast in 1954. In California, while employed full time with the Department of Corrections, he continued his education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in 1958, and a Masters in 1968, both in Education.

In 1954, Don started a career with the Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer and progressed through positions in Recreation, Correctional Counseling, Business Administration and Parole. After 31 years with the Department of Corrections, he retired as a Correctional Administrator.  But he wasn’t finished yet! He then began a 10-year career in Education focused on teaching middle school students.

From a first marriage, Don leaves daughter Joanna, her children Kathleen and Richard, as well as great-grandson Joshua.  Don also leaves daughter, Donna, her son James and his children Kylie and Justin.

In 1978, Don married Esther to whom he was happily married to the end of his days.