Donald Harris Hartlin, 86, of Branford, formerly of East Haven, died on Sept. 20. Donald was a World War II veteran, U.S. Army Air Corps. He was also a member of the last survivors club of the American Legion Post 89 in East Haven, where he was a 65-year member, and an associate member of the Short Beach Hose, Hook & Ladder Company for 33 years.

Donald was the husband of 61 years to Carol Englehart Hartlin, whom he met on a blind date 65 years ago. He was born on Feb. 18, 1926 in Somerville, Massachusetts, son of the late Lindsay and Beatrice A. Hartlin who emigrated to the U.S. from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Donald spent his formative years growing up in East Haven. After graduating from East Haven High School, Donald enlisted in the service. Trained as an airplane mechanic, he did two tours of duty, one stateside and one in Italy after the war.

Donald reenlisted with the government upon returning to the U.S. and planted pine trees in Deckers, Colorado, for the U.S. Forest Service. Upon his return to Connecticut, he built the family home in the Short Beach section of Branford where he resided with his family for over 50 years. Donald had worked as a technician, sheet metal fabricator, and foreman for the Airway Heating and Air Conditioning Company in Hamden for over 40 years. After retirement, he worked for the Connecticut Lottery Commission as a maintenance technician for O.T.B. in East Haven, moving with the operation for over 15 years until his retirement last November at the age of 85.

Donald was a member of the East Haven Shore Bowlers Association and a member of the North Haven Bowlers Association. He was also an avid camper, traveler, and explorer.

Donald’s legacy is in his friendships. Donald’s friends all greatly touched his life with love, joy, and humor.  It is his family’s wish that Donald, in turn, touched theirs.

Besides his wife, Donald is survived by his daughter, Diane Margaret Hartlin; his grandson, George Michael Harris Hartlin; his brother-in-law George Englehart and wife Carol; his sister-in-law, Shirley Maloney and her husband Arthur; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Norma Hartlin Keay, and two brothers, Kenneth Hartlin and Harold Hartlin (age 2).

A memorial graveside gathering in his honor will be held on Monday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m., in East Lawn Cemetery, East Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to American Legion Post 89, 574 Thompson Ave., East Haven, CT 06512; or to the Short Beach Hose, Hook, and Ladder Company 4, P.O. Box 2356, Branford, CT 06405; or to the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, 950 Campbell Ave., West Haven, CT 06516. The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, Branford, is in charge of arrangements.