Donald Paulson

Donald Wayne Paulson, passed away at Brookdale Assisted Living, Grand Blanc, Michigan on March 29, 2020, at age 90. Memorial Services will be 11:15 AM Monday, December 21 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 East Broad Street, Linden. Visitation will be at 10:30 AM until the service time. Graveside services will follow at 12:30 PM at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Don may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, 4438 Oak Bridge Drive, Flint, MI 48532.

Don was born January 14, 1930 in Flint, the son of Guy and Ruby (Carmen) Paulson. He grew up with two brothers, Harold 7 years older and Kenny 2 years younger. He is survived by four children, Rick (Alecyn) Paulson, Lisa (Chris) George, Sharon (Gary) Walters, Gary (Teresa) Hurd; son-in-law, Allen "Huck" Green; 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Wanda; and daughter, Donna Green; and his brothers.

Don was a 1948 graduate of Davison High School and joined the U.S. Navy. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948-1952, during the Korean War. The ship he served on was called Rolfe and it was 160 feet long, 35 feet wide with 100 men on board.

We asked Don what was his most memorable moment while he was on the Rolfe, as he let out a big laugh, he said during a water rescue drill where they usually used a dummy with a life jacket, they wanted to use a real guy that day, so Don was chosen, and as he floated wearing a life jacket in the cold rough Atlantic Ocean waiting to be rescued, each of the six officers took their turn to rescue him, while other sailors stood with rifles and bows in case of a shark attack. He said he was a very happy man when that drill was over .....

After his military service, Don worked at General Motors for 34 years as Plant Security Guard and also 12 years as Vice President of the Local Union 117 Flint, representing the Union by attending numerous conventions in many different states.

He loved watching sports, especially U of M football and the Detroit Tigers. He loved watching war movies and listening to comedians. But most of all he loved hunting and fishing, at age 16 he started deer hunting, and remembers one time while rabbit hunting he shot 2 rabbits with one shot, and if that wasn't lucky enough, at a different time while out deer hunting he shot 2 deer with a single shot.

We asked Don what his best vacation was, and he said that's an easy one, It was fishing in Canada with Rick. They flew in and brought back 28 Pike, 8-20 lbs each, plus some walleye. He said that was the best vacation ever.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com