Donald Gilchrist

Donald R. Gilchrist, a lifelong resident of Van Buren County, passed away Thursday, September 10, 2020, at 85 years of age. He is survived by his son, Roger Gilchrist, and daughter Pamela Gilchrist Corson, her husband Glenn Corson, as well as Don's partner of several years, Billi Cobb. Don was a well-known figure in Southwestern Michigan, given his 6-foot 7-inch frame, giant cowboy hat, and a wide array of lasting friendships. As an athlete, he and his team won the 1954 State Basketball Championship for Gobles High School. Don was a professional land surveyor all of his life. Remarkably, he was the Van Buren County Surveyor for 46 years! Most recently the owner of Don R. Gilchrist & Associates, he started surveying when he was 16 years old and continued this work until the final weeks of his life. His engagements include being City Surveyor for the City of Kalamazoo, Smith and Smith, Gove Engineering, and Alpha Engineering. Career achievements include core involvement in the Michigan remonumentation program. Also a deputy in the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office Mounted Division, and a long-time Boy Scout troop leader, Don had a strong commitment to civic involvement and making contributions to his immediate community. With a deep interest in late 1800s cowboy life, Don's hobby was participating in the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), where he has many close friends. He was also a member of the Paw Paw Conservation Club. One of Don's most loved adventures was traveling across the country with his horses to attend a cowboy sporting event in Edgewood, NM called the End of the Trail. Don's family wants to acknowledge the compassionate care provided by Bronson Hospital and Southwest Michigan Hospice Services. They were amazing and incredible, and we could not have wished for anything better. Well-wishes may be sent to the family at Billi Cobb / the Gilchrist Family, 612 W. Van Buren St., Gobles, MI 49055. Those who knew Don Gilchrist well will understand that, finishing his life in the community, he is now a cowboy that has ridden off into the sunset.