SOOS, Donald Stephen
1928 - 2022 (93 years)-
Name SOOS, Donald Stephen Birth 9 May 1928 Gender Male Death 29 Apr 2022 Jacksonville, FL 
Person ID I68 Soos from Hungary Last Modified 27 Sep 2025
Father SOOS, Steven J, b. 29 Apr 1900, Piski, Hungary d. 14 Jul 1958, Niagara Falls, NY (Age 58 years) Mother BUTTS, Mildred, b. 2 May 1904 d. 11 Sep 1990 (Age 86 years) Marriage Abt 1926 Family ID F1487 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family HULSEY, Lonell, b. 1 Apr 1932, Jasper, AL d. 11 Mar 2015, Orange Park, FL (Age 82 years) Marriage 10 Apr 1959 Norfolk, VA Children 1. SOOS, Stephen Brian 2. SOOS, Melissa Jone Family ID F1546 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 18 Oct 2025
-
Notes - Donald Stephen Soos, 94, passed away on April 29, 2022 with his children by his side. He was born on April 9, 1928 in North Tonawanda, NY to Stephen John Soos and Mildred Irene Butts Soos. He had a younger brother, Dick Soos who preceded him. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and served through the Korean and Vietnam wars, retiring in 1971 as a Master Chief Petty Officer. At the end of WWII, he was sent to Germany where he served with the Occupation Forces in Berlin, Heidelberg and Bremerhaven. He spoke often of his European service and the many places he visited there. He married Lonell Hulsey Soos in 1959 while stationed in Norfolk, VA. She was also in the Navy and was buried with military honors in the Jacksonville National Cemetery on her death in 2015 after 56 years of marriage. They had two children, Stephen Brian Soos of Middleburg, FL and Melissa Jone Soos Richardson who lives in Kings Bay, GA with her husband, David and Don’s two precious granddaughters, Sarah and Laura. In 1960 Donald Accompanied Vice Admiral J. McN. Taylor, Commander Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet, on a goodwill mission, sailing entirely around the world in USS Canberra CAG2, the fist guided missile cruiser to enter the Pacific Fleet. He spoke often about this cruise, considering it the highlight of his career. The ship made worldwide news headlines when it crossed international dateline, then fired a missile back across the dateline, shooting down a drone the day before they fired the shot! During that cruise, they visited Australia, China, Japan, India and Pakistan in the Far East, along with many others, visiting a total of 19 different countries, also including transits of both the Panama and Suez Canals. Don was very proud of his Naval Service and spoke often of serving his country for so many years. He never forgot his shipmates and could be counted on to support all military organizations, being a member of American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and was also a lifelong member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the disabled American Veterans. After his retirement in 1971, Don had multiple careers, including the insurance business, boat businesses, real estate, the jewelry business and also opened several pawn businesses. He was well known and respected in the business community as a self-made, honest businessman who could be counted on to support deserving local organizations and charities. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00am, Monday, May 23, 2022 in the Jacksonville Memory Gardens Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 2:30pm at Jacksonville National Cemetery with military honors conferred. In lieu of flowers the family requests, donations be made in Donald’s honor to Haven Hospice at www.beyourhaven.org or St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital at www.stjude.org
Posted online on May 11, 2022
Published in Florida Times Union
Service Information
Celebration of LifeJacksonville Memory Gardens ChapelMay 23, 2022 at 11:00 AMGra
- Donald Stephen Soos, 94, passed away on April 29, 2022 with his children by his side. He was born on April 9, 1928 in North Tonawanda, NY to Stephen John Soos and Mildred Irene Butts Soos. He had a younger brother, Dick Soos who preceded him. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and served through the Korean and Vietnam wars, retiring in 1971 as a Master Chief Petty Officer. At the end of WWII, he was sent to Germany where he served with the Occupation Forces in Berlin, Heidelberg and Bremerhaven. He spoke often of his European service and the many places he visited there. He married Lonell Hulsey Soos in 1959 while stationed in Norfolk, VA. She was also in the Navy and was buried with military honors in the Jacksonville National Cemetery on her death in 2015 after 56 years of marriage. They had two children, Stephen Brian Soos of Middleburg, FL and Melissa Jone Soos Richardson who lives in Kings Bay, GA with her husband, David and Don’s two precious granddaughters, Sarah and Laura. In 1960 Donald Accompanied Vice Admiral J. McN. Taylor, Commander Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet, on a goodwill mission, sailing entirely around the world in USS Canberra CAG2, the fist guided missile cruiser to enter the Pacific Fleet. He spoke often about this cruise, considering it the highlight of his career. The ship made worldwide news headlines when it crossed international dateline, then fired a missile back across the dateline, shooting down a drone the day before they fired the shot! During that cruise, they visited Australia, China, Japan, India and Pakistan in the Far East, along with many others, visiting a total of 19 different countries, also including transits of both the Panama and Suez Canals. Don was very proud of his Naval Service and spoke often of serving his country for so many years. He never forgot his shipmates and could be counted on to support all military organizations, being a member of American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and was also a lifelong member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the disabled American Veterans. After his retirement in 1971, Don had multiple careers, including the insurance business, boat businesses, real estate, the jewelry business and also opened several pawn businesses. He was well known and respected in the business community as a self-made, honest businessman who could be counted on to support deserving local organizations and charities. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00am, Monday, May 23, 2022 in the Jacksonville Memory Gardens Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 2:30pm at Jacksonville National Cemetery with military honors conferred. In lieu of flowers the family requests, donations be made in Donald’s honor to Haven Hospice at www.beyourhaven.org or St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital at www.stjude.org