Don Edward Gaines

Don Edward Gaines was born on April 23, 1937 in Illinois to parents Leroy Henry Gaines (1907-1977) and Ollie Catherine Shafer (1911-1983). He grew up in Thornton, Cook, Illinois, USA with his brother, Richard Gene Gaines (1931-1995). Don went to school at East Alton Wood River High School. Grew up in East Alton and Wood River. He enlisted into the Army in November of 1957 and completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He then was deployed to Europe October of 1958 and served in Italy in an Italian-American field maneuvers. He was a First Class Private in the 79th Artillery. Don was seeing Patricia Carroll (Marsee) in 1975 and became pregnant. Unfortunately, he never knew about me. Don Edward Gaines worked at Stulls Body shop in Wood River Illinois up until his death on June 9, 1984. He passed away at Wood River Township Hospital.