April 13, 81, 
Mr. Donald Craig Etheridge, 81, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2017. As a devoted father and grandfather, he was affectionately known as Bop to all those who loved him.
He was born on April 11, 1936 in Eudora, Arkansas to the late Arliss Etheridge and Mamie Etheridge.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for twenty years achieving the rank of Technical Sergeant as an Ammunition Maintenance Supervisor. His military career took him from the Far East to North Carolina.
Donald’s greatest passion in life was spending time with his friends and family. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed walking. He traveled extensively with his wife Mikiala and together they visited all fifty states and seven continents.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years Mikiala Monterno Etheridge. His surviving family includes his daughter, Dawna Etheridge Thompson and husband, Mike of Princeton; his son Michael Craig Etheridge and wife, Teresa of Apex; his son Jay Donald Etheridge and wife, Nancy of Willow Spring; his granddaughter, Stacey Thompson Byrd and husband, Christopher of Cary; his granddaughter, Lisa Thompson Rochette and husband, David of Raleigh; his grandson, Joshua Matthew Thompson of Charlotte; his great granddaughter, Malia Kathryn Byrd of Cary and a special friend of the family, Maelina Kearney. In addition to his immediate family he is survived by his brothers “Shorty” Etheridge and Tommy Etheridge.
Funeral Services will be held at Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church in Goldsboro on Monday April 17 at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends at Seymour Funeral Home in Goldsboro on Sunday April 16 from 6 to 7 pm.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Community Home and Hospice Care of Wayne County, Dr. Keith Carmack, Dr. Daniel Poole and to the nurses and staff of Eagle’s Pointe Assisted Living for providing compassionate care for our father. In addition, we would like to recognize Gene Smith for his friendship and support over the past year.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Goldsboro or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.