Donald Laverne Weatherall

Don Laverne Weatherall lived an extraordinary life of faith, family, Christian education, and service to others. To those who knew him well and even to those who met him only briefly, Don had a way of making people feel comfortable, valued, and important. His friendliness, sense of humor, calm demeanor, selflessness, and genuine love for people were qualities that remained with him throughout his life.

Born July 12, 1934, in Oklahoma, Don grew up during the Great Depression. As the eldest child in his family, responsibility came early. Before he was ten years old, he was milking cows, driving a tractor, completing farm chores, repairing equipment, mending fences, and doing whatever was necessary to help his family. Life on a rented farm without running water or indoor plumbing taught him resourcefulness, perseverance, and the value of hard work. Qualities that would serve him throughout his life.

Don's faith was shaped in part by his grandmother Cagle, a devoted Seventh-day Adventist who encouraged his walk with Jesus. His church recognized his natural ability as a speaker and mentor, and Don felt increasingly called to a life of Christian service. 

As a teenager, Don excelled in athletics, particularly basketball, and was offered a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. Instead, he chose to pursue a Christian education and a life dedicated to serving others. He attended Southwestern Adventist College and later Union College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in education.

During these years, Don met the love of his life, Ardyce Kuhnke. They married on July 28, 1954, beginning a partnership centered on faith, family, and service. 

Don's professional journey in Seventh-day Adventist education spanned more than 45 years. He began at Platte Valley Academy in Nebraska, initially teaching history and serving as maintenance director. His talents quickly extended far beyond the classroom. Students gravitated toward him whether he was teaching, driving a bus, coaching sports, supervising social activities, or simply taking the time to listen.

His leadership abilities were soon recognized, but Don believed strongly in being prepared for the responsibilities entrusted to him. He continued his education, earning a master's degree in school administration and counseling from Kearney State University and later a Ph.D. in school administration.

His career would take him into increasingly influential leadership positions. Don served as principal of Enterprise Academy in Kansas and Highland Academy in Tennessee before becoming Superintendent of Schools for the Florida Conference, which operated 43 schools.

He later spent 17 years as Associate Director of Education for the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, helping oversee schools across eight southern states. He subsequently served as Associate Director of Education for the North American Division, with responsibility for secondary education throughout the United States, Canada, and Bermuda.

Among his many responsibilities, Don played an important role in school accreditation. He chaired committees that helped rewrite evaluation instruments for the Adventist educational system and contributed to an accreditation program recognized throughout the country. His work also extended to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process.

Don's commitment to education reached well beyond administration. He worked with teams of educators on the development of Bible textbooks used in secondary religion courses in Adventist schools around the world. He also served as an adjunct professor at Andrews University and La Sierra University, continuing to teach and mentor future educators.

Throughout his career, Don believed deeply in the value of Christian education. He respected the academic standards of public education while believing that Christian schools offered something additional: the opportunity to integrate faith, learning, personal attention, and strong moral values.

For all his professional achievements, titles, degrees, and responsibilities, however, Don's greatest source of pride was never his career. It was his family. 

Don and Ardyce were blessed with three daughters, Cynthia, Kristy, and Lori. He was a loving and devoted father who had an exceptional ability to understand each of his daughters as individuals. He listened, recognized what each one needed, and loved each of them unconditionally.

That same devotion extended to his three grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don was immensely proud of his family and loved sharing their photographs, accomplishments, milestones, and stories. Anyone who spent time with him quickly understood just how much being a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather meant to him.

His devotion to Ardyce was equally remarkable. During the final years of her life, as she faced significant health challenges, Don cared for her tenderly and faithfully. Those around them witnessed a devotion that never wavered.

Professionally, Don was often described as a "voice of reason." He rarely raised his voice. He approached difficult situations with a calm demeanor and a positive attitude. Colleagues valued his management skills and knew him as someone who was always organized, always on time, and always prepared. He expected much of himself while remaining extraordinarily patient with others.

Students, teachers, parents, and colleagues continued to seek him out long after their professional paths had separated. The emails, letters, cards, speaking invitations, and requests to return to schools and gatherings were evidence of the lasting relationships he formed throughout his life.

Don's legacy cannot be measured simply by the positions he held or the schools and educational systems he helped lead. It can be found in generations of students who were encouraged by him, educators who learned from him, colleagues who trusted him, friends who valued him, and family members who knew the depth of his love.

He was a teacher, administrator, mentor, leader, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and man of deep faith. He spent his life helping others learn, grow, and recognize their own value.

Don was greatly loved, and his influence will continue through the family he cherished, the educational community he served, and the countless lives he touched along the way.

A service to thank God for Don’s life and to reminisce about our favorite memories of him will be held at the Florida Living Retirement Center SDA Church at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

The church is located at 600 Edgehill Place, Apopka, FL 32703.

All are welcome to attend church in the morning and join us for a potluck luncheon at noon prior to Don’s memorial service.