Donald Paul Nimey, Feb 17, 1938, of Hudson, North Carolina passed away on Feb 22, 2024.  Don was the son of Ruth Eugenia Clark (Nimey) and Lester Reddin Buell Nimey born on February 17, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Don enlisted in the US Navy at 17 years of age and proudly served for twenty years.  Assignments included USS Smalley (DD 565); USS Kenneth Bailey (DDR 713); USS Preserver (ARS 8); USS Wasp (CVS 18); USS Elmer Montgomery, (FF-1082); NAVSUPACT Saigon; NAVSAT Norfolk; and NAVSTA Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.  He often would proudly recall USS Preserver’s hunt for the lost submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593) in 1963 and USS Wasp’s recovery of Gemini 6 in 1965.

During his enlistment, Don earned a BA from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, a certificate of International Studies from the Naval War College, and an MPA from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Following his Naval career he worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Thomasville, GA as the COMSEC Custodian for more than 20 years.

Don was a lifelong philatelist getting his start in stamp collecting at 12 years of age encouraged by his Grandfather Clark, Uncle Charles, and father.  He could often be found in his “Man Cave” surrounded by stamps with a magnifying glass in hand.

In addition to his love of stamps, he was a lover of history favoring books and movies about WWII and the Civil War.  Despite being born in Philadelphia, in his heart he was a “Son of the South” and visited many of the Civil War battlefields.

Don was a lifelong Lutheran and a member of St John’s Lutheran Church, Hudson, NC.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Robert Retterer, his brothers Lester George Nimey and Kenneth Clark Nimey, and a grandson Gregory Buell Cornelius.

Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Peggy Ann Hartley Nimey, his daughter, Donna Nimey; son Donald Paul Nimey II (Anne Nimey).  He is survived by his grandchildren: Katherine Kay Cornelius; Severin Wade Cornelius; Wesley Parker Cornelius Christian Paul Cornelius; Christina Ruth Cornelius; Henry James Nimey; Madeline Ann Cornelius Maurer; and Mary Baxter Nimey.  He is survived by three great grandchildren:  Natalie Marie Gray; Alaina Mae Cornelius; and Brixtin James Maurer.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the members of St John’s Lutheran for their prayers and support as well as the staff and caregivers of Amorem.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held on Monday February 26, 2024.  The family will receive visitors at 1 pm and the funeral will follow at 2 pm.  Graveside internment will be at Pinecrest Cemetery, Granite Falls.

An online guestbook and obituary will be available at www.mackiefh.com.

Mackie Funeral Service and Cremations is assisting the family.