VIRGINIA BEACH - Donald Linn Felt, a retired Navy rear admiral and accomplished naval aviator, died April 19, 2011 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. He was born in San Diego June 6, 1931 to the late Adm. Don Felt and Kathryn Cowley Felt. Growing up in the heart of naval aviation during World War II, Linn knew he wanted to fly Navy. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., he took the first step toward his goal by entering the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of 1953. He completed a tour in USS George Clymer (AP A-27) and entered flight training, earning his wings in 1956. Duty in a series of attack squadrons culminated in command of VA- 27 where he completed more than 240 combat missions flying A4 and A7 aircraft over Vietnam. He received numerous awards and citations for airmanship and leadership in combat. Other sea tours were Strike Operations in Intrepid (CVA-11) during the Vietnam conflict and commanding officer of Camden (AOE-2). The highlight of his career in naval aviation as command of Midway (CVA-41) homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. In 1980, Linn was promoted to rear admiral and served as commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan and later in J-4 and J-5 on the Joint Staff, retiring in 1985. He had earned the degree of aeronautical engineer from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Putting his education to good use in his second career, Adm. Felt taught physics and mathematics in high schools in Arlington and Virginia Beach. Later he served on the Virginia Beach School Board for three years where he focused on curricula and student evaluation. He was a member of several organizations including the associations of Naval Aviation, Tailhook, A4's and Naval Academy. Linn was responsible for the administration of scholarships for the Virginia Beach Sports Club. Adm. Felt is survived by Marguerite, his life companion and loving wife for 53 years; their children, Kathryn Kane, Mary O'Connor, Liz Cerand, George Felt and Sara Barnett, who shared the adventures and tribulations in the life of a navy man, traveling from coast to coast, Hawaii and Japan. He is also survived by 13 loving grandchildren and friend, Don Muise. A memorial service will be held Monday, April 25, in the Fort Story Chapel at 2 p.m. A reception at Broad Bay Country Club will follow. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, is handling arrangements. Those planning to attend the service that do not have DOD access need to call the funeral home to be put on the list to gain entry onto the base at (757) 428-7880. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

Published in The Virginian Pilot on April 23, 2011