Hammond Donald Caldwell, Jr, 82, of Lake City, FL, passed away on March 11, 2025. Don was  born on May 25, 1942 in Cambridge, MA to Hammond Donald Caldwell and Elsie Boland Caldwell. He grew up all over the world as an army son, spending time in Germany and Okinawa.

He graduated from Frederick Military Academy, Portsmouth, VA in 1961. After attending Florida State University, Don entered the United States Air Force in 1963 and spent 4 years serving his country at Homestead Air Force, Homestead, FL and Thailand, finishing his service in the Reserves at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL where he met the love of his life, Muriel Ann Monroe. Don and Muriel married in 1967.  Together, they raised a son and a daughter and enjoyed 57 years of marriage.

He worked in several different fields before retiring in 2008 after a successful fundraising career for the General Board of Global Ministries of the Methodist Church, and the Florida United Methodist Foundation. After retiring, Don and Muriel spent years volunteering in disaster areas with the "Nomads on a Mission" RV group.  He loved traveling, camping, working in the yard, and staying active.

Don was known for being the "mayor" of the neighborhood.  He had a gift for being able to talk to anyone about anything. He was an active member of the neighborhood and the First Methodist Church of Lake City.  Don never met a puzzle he couldn't solve and a game he couldn't win, although his grandson gave him a run for his money on the chess board. He will be deeply missed by his wife Muriel, son Clifford Caldwell, daughter Kathryn Caldwell (Chris Watts) and grandson Lucas, sister Elsie Fields, friends, and all who knew him.

Memorials may be sent to Residing Hope (Florida Methodist Children's Home) 51 Children's Way, Enterprise, FL 32725 or the First Methodist Church of Lake City, 973 S Marion Ave, Lake City, 32025.