Donald Paul Hudson

Donald Paul Hudson passed away Dec. 8, 2022, in California City, California, at the age of 83. Donald was born on Oct. 23, 1939, in Tucson, Arizona. He was raised at the Hudson Ranch in Dos Cabezas, outside of Willcox, with his mother and father (Virginia “Chuckie” and Jim Hudson), brother Marvin and sister Carol. Don earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at New Mexico State University and a master’s in business administration at California State University Fullerton. His professional career began in 1958 at the White Sands Missile Range, where he worked as an electronic technician and co-operative electrical engineer. He went on to work in Southern California in electronic engineering; operations and planning; and manufacturing finance and accounting at companies spanning Disney, early disk drive maker Micropolis and MCA Entertainment Group, among others. At his home in Valencia, California, he founded his own company, Hudson & Associates, in 1993, which he continued into the early 2000s. He began working as a contract engineer at Edwards Air Force Base in 2001, launching a two-decade career in rocket science. In 2003 he joined the Air Force Research Lab at Edwards, where he was the principal instrumentation and control engineer for its large-engine testing facilities. During this time, he moved to California City. He continued working at the AFRL well into his eighties, retiring at the close of 2021. Shortly before his death, he was awarded emeritus status that would have allowed him to continue in a volunteer advisory capacity. Don always had his eyes on the skies – quite literally. He began to fly early in his life, soaring for many years. Later he transitioned into general aviation, earning his pilot’s license and instrument rating, and could be found at any number of airports across Southern California and Southern Arizona in his Piper Arrow. When he wasn’t flying, he was admiring weather and cloud formations, cheering on a hawk soaring in an opportune thermal, and observing the wildlife around his desert home. He had a gift for Socratic persuasion, a sharp wit and a love of comics featuring both – he was a fan of the old “Bloom County” strips, as well as “Mutts” and “The Far Side.” Don is survived by his daughter Cortney Will (spouse Travis), brother Marvin, sister Carol, nieces and nephews, and his former spouse Maryann. He is preceded in death by his daughter Sigrid Hudson Bishop (spouse Greg), his mother and father, and former spouse Linda. Family services will be held at a later date.

Donald Paul Hudson

October 23, 1939 - December 8, 2022