Rayne - Funeral services will be held at Gossen Funeral Home Chapel, Friday, January 18, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. for Donald Emery Trull, 85 who died Sunday, January 13, 2013 in San Antonio, TX.

Interment will be in the Rayne Cemetery Inc.in Rayne, LA.

Surviving are daughter; Susan Trull of San Antonio, TX; grandchild, Matthew Trull of Bakersfield, CA; four nephews, David Trull, Paul Trull, Pete Trull and Josh Sills.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 61 years, Thelma Ray Sills Trull; his son, Donald Scott Trull of Mesquite, Texas; and his brother and only sibling, Neal Delbert Trull of Lee's Summit, Missouri.

Donald was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on November 24, 1927, to the late Della Donna Silkett Trull and Ernest George Trull. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City in 1945 and enlisted in the Army, from which he was honorably discharged in 1947. Upon his return from military service, he attended the Kansas City, Kansas, Junior College and the University of Kansas, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1951.

Following graduation, Don went to work for the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads (now the Federal Highway Administration), staying with that agency for over 30 years until his retirement in late 1982. During his career, he served in progressively more responsible positions in Lincoln, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; St. Paul, Minnesota; Bismarck, North Dakota; Sacramento, California; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago, Illinois. Don was the recipient of several awards, including the FHWA Administrator's Award for Superior Service, and the USDOT Secretary's Award for Meritorious Service. In 1964 he was awarded a scholarship for one year's graduate study at Stanford University, sponsored by his agency and the National Institute of Public Affairs. Upon completion of his studies he was awarded a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering.

After retirement, Don had several occupations which he considered "fun jobs." He took the H&R Block income tax course and did tax returns for two seasons. In 1984 he went to work at Beere True Value Hardware where he worked off and on for 15 years. He took a home study course and became a certified locksmith and, with a friend, had a locksmith business for about 10 years. He was fond of saying that these jobs didn't make much money, but were a lot of fun.

Don put family above all else. On retiring, he and Thelma moved to San Antonio to be near their daughter and encouraged his son and family to join them in San Antonio. Don loved wood working and especially loved the challenge of creating things from scrap wood. He was well known for his witty and sarcastic sense of humor, which he kept to the very end of his life.

Don was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. We will miss him and keep him forever in our hearts.

Friends will be received Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Friday, January 18, 2013 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at Gossen Funeral Home, Inc., Rayne, LA.

Friends may view the obituary and guestbook online at www.gossenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Gossen Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayne, LA, (337) 334-3141.