Steven Edwin Donley, 72, of Huntsville died Saturday after a brief illness. Mr. Donley was a veteran of the Vietnam war, having served in small boats there as a U.S. Navy LT(jg) in 1968-1969, and as the Naval Advisor to the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division in the later part of his tour there. He left active duty service in the Navy in December 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant.
He was a retiree of the Perkin-Elmer Corporation/Hughes Aircraft Corporation/ Raytheon Corporation and was a co-founder of two successful Huntsville technology companies, Advanced Optical Systems, Inc., and Global Majic Technical Services Company. Mr. Donley retired from Global Majic in 2008 and remained on the Board of Directors until the company was sold in December of 2012. Mr. Donley was a 1965 graduate of Michigan State University and received his M.B.A. from the University of Houston in 1974.
Active in many civic and professional organizations, Mr. Donley and served as President of the Huntsville Aerospace Marketing Association, Chairman of the National Space Club, and as a Board Member for the Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army. He was a Fellow, Certified Professional Contracts Manager, and past chapter President in the National Contract Management Association. He was also a graduate of the Huntsville/Madison County Leadership 2000 class, a member of the Huntsville Rotary Club and a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Major General and Mrs. Edwin I. Donley of Huntsville and his brother Kevin Michael Donley.
He is survived by his beloved wife 28 years, Terri Donley; daughter, Cristin Donley and her husband, Jonathan Tabler, and grandson, Braeden of Santa Monica, California; Shannon Smith Simpson and her husband, Derek, and grandchildren, Kate, Jane and Will Simpson of Huntsville; daughter, Amy Smith Bailey and her husband, Brad, and grandchildren Campbell and Sarah of Birmingham; sister-in-law, Christine Donley of Huntsville; nieces, Kelly Tsuhlares and Chris Anne Causey; nephew, USAF Technical Sergeant Kaye Patrick Donley; brother, Douglas Donley of Huntsville; and nieces, Ivy Donley and Raine Donley.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 9 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, with the funeral service immediately following in the chapel. There will be a private burial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project.
