DONALD F. BRIGHTMAN of Knoxville, MD died Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at his residence. Mr. Brightman was born in Laurens, NY May 28, 1921. The son of the late Ralph and Maude Fuller Brightman. He married Mary Etta Turner on January 3, 1942 in Jackson, MS. Their youngest son, Ronald E. Brightman died in 1968. Surviving children are Donna L. Brightman of Knoxville, MD and Thomas M. Brightman of Baltimore, MD. Mr. Brightman served in the Civilian Conservation Corp from 1938-39 as a tail sawyer at Murphy Bros. Lumber Company, Laurens, NY. He entered into active duty on December 5, 1939 serving in the Army Air Force as a flight radio operator stationed at Drew Field, FL until October 22, 1945. He worked as a park ranger at Gilbert Lake State Park in Laurens, NY, followed by a 40 year career in the landscape profession at: Mississippi State College in Columbus, MS; Rollins College in Winter Park, FL; University of South Florida in Boca Raton, FL; the city of Clearwater, FL and the city of Oak Ridge, TN; retiring in Denton, MD in 1984. Following his wife's death in 2002, he lived with his daughter and son-in-law in Knoxville, MD where he continued to garden and write poetry until becoming ill in September of 2007. Predeceased by brothers, Gordon Brightman of Orlando, FL and Kendall Brightman of Oneonta, NY; sisters Juanita Peet and Louise Hare both of Oneonta, NY. Survived by his much loved sister Doris Pearsall also of Knoxville, MD, sister-in-law Ernestine Brightman of Orlando, FL, son-in-law Courtney Hirsh, grandsons Turner and Reid Hirsh all of Knoxville, MD, granddaughters A. J. Roller of Christiansburg, VA, Bonnie Rutherford of Riner, VA; great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Caitlyn; nephews John Brightman of Laurens, NY, Donald Peet of Sidney, ME, William and Robert Brightman both of Orlando, FL, and nieces Nancy Fraize of Saint Charles, AR, and Sharon Swift of Oneonta, NY, cousin Coraline Crisafulli of Fulton, NY. Burial will be at the Laurens Cemetery, Laurens, NY in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Washington County, 747 Northern Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland 21742, or any fire and rescue organization in Washington County.