12 Nov 1927 – 3 Jan 1960
2nd-Great Grandson of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
Great-Grandson of Louis Philip Cardon and Susette Stalé
Grandson of Joseph Samuel Cardon and Rhoda Ann McClellan
Son of William Afton Cardon and Hettie Tenney
Three El Pasoans Die in Plane Crash
Casas Grandes Area Site of Tragedy
A prominent El Paso businessman, his 9-year-old son and a friend were fatally injured Sunday when the private plane in which they were flying crashed 10 miles northwest of Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, 80 miles southwest of El Paso.
Dead were Donald C. Cardon Sr., 31, of 2409 Mathias St., general manager of State Farm Insurance Col: his son, Donald C. Cardon Jr., and a man identified by the Federal Aviation Agency as Larry Brooks, who was piloting the plane.
The three were taking a ride in the Casas Grandes about noon Sunday, according to information received by The Times, when the plane crashed.
The FAA said the plane was a Mooney MK 20-A single engine model. The craft is owned by J. D. Palm of 4755 Sierra Vista Drive. Palm was en route to Casas Grandes late Sunday by chartered plane.
The plane was due to arrive in El Paso Sunday night. Brooks and another El Paso pilot, Ken Boomer, had flown to Casas Grandes airport earlier in the day from El Paso International Airport.
Apparently, Brooks met the Cardons in Casas Grandes. Mr. and Mrs. Cardon, and the three children had driven to the Mexican city to attend the funeral of Mrs. Cardon’s brother’s son.
Mrs. Cardon’s parents and relatives reside in Casas Grandes.
Cardon Sr. was a native of El Paso, and a graduate of Austin High School and Texas A. and M. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and East El Paso Rotary Club.
The senior Cardon had been a star athlete in Austin High School, participation on the track and basketball teams. While attending Texas A&M, he ran the 440-yard race and was a member of the National Championship mile relay team.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Flora Jean Cardon; two daughters, Vickie and Hettie Rene; his parents, Mr. and Mrs W. A. Cardon, and three brothers, William A. Cardon Jr., Hugh F. Cardon and Thomas Cardon, all of El Paso.
Donald Jr. was a student in Hughey School.
Funeral arrangements were pending for the Cardons with Harding and Orr Funeral Home.
-Published in The El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas), Monday, January 4, 1960, page 1
Father and Son, 9, Killed in Plane Crash
Donald C. Cardon Sr., general manager of the State Farm Insurance Co. of El Paso, and his 9-year-old son, Donald Jr., were killed in a plane crash yesterday 10 miles northwest of Casas Grandes, Chihuahua.
A third victim was Larry Brooks, address unknown. He was taking the two Cardons for a ride in the light plane when the crash occurred 80 miles southwest of El Paso. Mr. and Mrs. Cardon and their children had driven to Casas Grandes to attend the funeral of Mrs. Cardon’s brother’s son. A lifelong resident of El Paso, Mr. Cardon was a graduate of Austin High School and Texas A. and M. He belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and East El Paso Rotary Club. He and his family resided at 1409 Mathias street.
At Texas A. and M., Mr. Cardon was a track star and a member of the National Championship mile relay team. His son was a student at Hughey School.
Surviving Mr. Cardon are his widow, Mrs. Flora Jean Cardon; two daughters, Vickie and Hettie Rene; his parents Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Cardon, and three brothers, William A. Cardon Jr. Hugh F. Cardon and Thomas Cardon, all of El Paso.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Harding and Orr Funeral Home.
-Published in the El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas), Monday, January 4, 1960, Page 3
Services Held for Crash Victims
Funeral services for Donald C. Cardon Sr. of 1409 Mathias street, and his son, Donald C. Cardon Jr., 9, were held today at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints with Bishop Willard Whipple officiating. They were killed in a plane crash in Mexico Sunday.
Pallbearers for young Cardon were Kent Donaldson, La Salle Taylor, Claudus Bowman, Alma Jarvis, Dr. Jack Knudson, and Herman Hatch.
Burial for both was in Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Harding and Orr Funeral Home.
-Published in the El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas), Tuesday, January 5, 1960, page 22
Cardon Services Scheduled
Funeral services for Donald C. Cardon Sr., 32, of 1409 Mathias St., and his son, Donald C. Cardon Jr., 9, who died in a plane crash near Casas Grandes, Mexico, Sunday, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Bishop Willard Whipple officiating.
Burial for both will be in Evergreen Cemetery with Harding and Orr Funeral Home in charge.
Pallbearers for Mr. Cardon will be Dr. Harold Mullen, Frank Heinlein, Bill Gonzalez, Bob Cardon, Grant Stevens and Delroy Taylor.
Pallbearers for Donald Cardon Jr., will be Kent Donaldson, La Selle Taylor, Claudius Bowman, Alma Jarvis, Dr. Jack Knudsen and Herman Hatch. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Cardon, Johnny Mullen, Russell Taylor, Jimmy Tew, Ricky Tew, Jackie Reaves, Hal Gayle, Mike Stevens, Kirk Gilmore, Don Jones and Dave Jones.
-Published in The El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas), Tuesday, January 5, 1960, page 3
Plane Crash Kills Three El Pasoans
EL PASO (AP)-A prominent El Paso businessman and his 9-year-old son, and a friend, were fatally injured Sunday when the private plane in which they were flying crashed 10 miles from Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, 80 miles southwest of El Paso.
Dead were Donald C. Cardon Sr., 31, general manager of State Farm Insurance Co.; his son, Donald C. Jr., and a man identified by the FAA as Larry Brooks, who was piloting the plane.
The three were making a sight seeing ride in the Casas Grandes area early Sunday afternoon, according to information received in El Paso, when the plane crashed.
-Published in the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Monday, January 4, 1960, page A9
Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso, Texas
