LTC Donald Cecil Trolinger

1934 - 2021  (86 years)

• Name	Donald Cecil Trolinger
  Prefix	LTC
  Nickname	Don
  Birth	2 Oct 1934	Miami, Ottawa, OK
  Gender	Male
  Death	18 Sep 2021	Miami, Ottawa, OK
  	Lt. Col (Ret). Donald C Trolinger, passed from this life on Saturday September 18, 2021 at his home. He was 86. Don was born October 2, 1934 in Ottawa County, OK to George Phillip "G.P." and Rosa (Schubert) Trolinger. He graduated from Miami High School in 1952. While attending Northeastern A&M College he was selected for pilot training in the United States Air Force. After finishing pilot training, his first assignment was to Tinker AFB where he met his wife, Patricia J Scruggs. They were married on January 7, 1956. He was then assigned to Madrid, Spain for 3 years. After Spain, he was transferred to Andrews AFB in Maryland. He was chief pilot for the Convair type aircraft. His next assignment was to Vietnam. He flew 850 combat hours and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Air Medal with (6) Oak Leaf clusters. His next assignment was to Randolph AFB. He again flew the C-131D aircraft on VIP missions. In July 1969 he was selected to be the personal pilot for General David A. Burchinal, Deputy Commander in chief, HQUSECOM in Stuttgart, Germany. During his 4 year tour in Stuttgart, he flew many VIP's notably Henry Kissinger on six highly classified missions for which he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. At the end of his tour with HQUSECOM he had 10,005 flying hours. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years in 2010. His parents and his brothers George Trolinger and Max Trolinger. After his retirement from the Air Force, he was active in supporting football and basketball at NEO. He was a board member of the Miami Senior Center for many years. He was an elder and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his son Richard and wife Jill of Bartlesville. His daughter Betty Giffhorn and husband Matt of Tulsa. Granddaughter Alexis Hailey, of Bartlesville Granddaughter Ellie Brim and husband Logan of Bartlesville. His grandsons Chris Giffhorn and Ben Giffhorn of Oklahoma City and granddaughter, Katharine Giffhorn of Tulsa. Also his great grandsons Jack Hailey of Bartlesville and Hawkin Brim and great-granddaughter, Henley Brim of Bartlesville. In addition he is survived by his best friend, Col. George Dixon USAF Retired of Castleton, VA. We were immeasurably blessed to have had such a good man as our father and as our children's grandfather. He was a constant source of generosity, wisdom and stability for us all. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 27, 2021 at Ottawa Indian Cemetery, southeast of Miami, OK with Rev. Raymond VandeGiessen officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Grove Veterans Ritual Team. Friends and family may pay their respects Wednesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, OK. Services have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.
  Person ID	I1141	Drollinger Genealogy
  Last Modified	22 Sep 2021

  
  

  Father	George Phillip Trolinger,   b. 27 Sep 1900, Coal, Henry, MO d. 19 Sep 1997, Miami, Saline, MO (Age 96 years)
  Mother	Rosa Maxine Schubert,   b. 31 Aug 1905, Quapaw, Ottawa, OK d. 12 May 2004 (Age 98 years)
  Family ID	F376	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Patricia Jane Scruggs,   b. 17 Mar 1930, Madisonville, Hopkins, TN d. 31 Oct 2010, Quapaw, Ottawa, OK (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	7 Jan 1956	El Reno, Canadian, OK
  Children	1. Richard James Trolinger   2. Betty Ann Trolinger
  Family ID	F381	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 May 2022

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 2 Oct 1934 - Miami, Ottawa, OK Marriage - 7 Jan 1956 - El Reno, Canadian, OK Death - 18 Sep 2021 - Miami, Ottawa, OK  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  
  

  Headstones

  Ottawa Indian Cemetery Miami, Ottawa, OK

  
  

• Notes

  I called and spoke with Don today, 18 Jan 2103, for the first time and had a short but good visit. He had an appointment to get to. He is a very nice gentleman and very sharp. I told him the main reason I was calling was regarding an Isack Trolinder/Trolinger and that according to Gordon L. Drollinger's notes, his late wife, Patricia, was the one who had first informed Gordon of Isack. I informed Don that Gordon and Patricia had exchanged information in the past. Don, told me that even though they are interested to a degree, neither of their children do genealogy. However, he said he would be happy to help me as best as he could. I also explained to Don that my father was also an Air Force man and pilot himself and had also been stationed in Stuttgart, Germany and that we too, were Presbyterians.Lots of curious similarities! He gave me his email address(dontrolinger@cableone.net). He said he is looking forward to exchanging more stories, etc. He also said that at one time he was the personal pilot for the ranking Air Force 4 star general and that he has over 10,000 hours (which is a lot!). David H. Drollinger 18Jan 2013 Don called me today, 26 Jan 2013. He said he could not find anyinformation in his late wife, Patti's genealogy information regarding Isack Trolinder. He did say that all of the family group sheet information I sent him was absolutely correct. He shared some of his flying stories with me. One of the planes he flew a lot was a Convair C-130 Exec. where he transported various dignataries mostly in Europe. He also said he delivered a C-130 to Korea for our Korean Ambassador's use. He left America heading east to Korea. After dropping off the plane, he was flown back to America again heading east and therefore completing a trip around the world. He said he kept a diary of that particular trip. He earned a purple heart in Vietnam when he was injured when the hotel he was staying in was partially destroyed by a truck-bomb. He was very lucky to have not been killed. (David H. Drollinger 26 Jan 2013) Donald is a retired Air Force pilot and Lieutenant Colonel. Ref Donald's wife's record for her obituary and her many accomplishments. Donald C Trolinger Home (918) 542-5772 61300 E 110 Rd Miami, OK 74354-4726 Age: 65+ Associated: Patricia J Trolinger