Command Master Chief Donald P. Redder, USN

Command Master Chief Donald P. Redder, USN of Gulfport, MS passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Donald was born on the Great Plains of Texas on the 11th day of February, 1934, to Anton Victor Redder, and Teresa Mea Redder, of Vega, TX.

During the early years of his life, Donald worked and played on the family farm in Vega, TX. During his grade school years, he attended a one room schoolhouse built by his grandfather, John Heiselman Sr. The school was one mile away and if they were lucky, he and his brother Frank could catch one of their horses and ride to school but still had to walk home because the horses would always go back to the barn.

Donald went on to Adian Middle School, and then St. Mary’s Middle School. From 8th grade, he attended a boarding school, Price Memorial High School in Amarillo, TX. During his senior year in Amarillo his parents moved to Scranton, AR. Donald accompanied his parents to help establish a new family farm. He reentered high school and graduated from Scranton High in 1952. Shortly thereafter, Donald returned to Texas to work in the oil fields.

In 1955 Donald was notified that his draft notice was in the mail. Not wanting to go into the Army, he joined the Navy and was assigned to the Sea Bees. For the next 30 years Donald remained in the Naval Service, serving throughout the world. He served on the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea to the Mariana Islands in the South Pacific, from the Black Seashore of Istanbul, Turkey, to the coral reefs of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. After a tour in Vietnam and a shore duty in Jacksonville, FL, Donald found his way to the construction battalion center in Gulfport. There he remained at various commands and was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer. He was later appointed Command Master Chief of NMCB 133, and then as the Command Master Chief of the 20th Naval Construction Regiment. After this tour of duty, Command Master Chief Redder retired from the Naval service in March of 1985. Three days after Donald retired from Naval Service, he joined the engineering division of the support services contractor at Stennis Space Center as a construction inspector. He remained at the space center for the next 17 years. In 2002 he retired the second time and reported to his rocking chair for a well-earned rest.

Passed on to eternal life are both his parents, Tony and Tress Redder of Scranton, AR; his wife, Dorothea Jean; his son, David; his daughter, Michelle; his brothers, LTC John A. Redder, US Army and John’s wife, Madeline of Stanley, NC and Robert Joseph Redder and Robert’s wife, Joanne of Loveland, CO; and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Redder, of Stafford, VA.

Command Master Chief Redder is survived by his constant companion and confidant, Linda McCardle; and his daughters, Lorrie Lorraine Mattingly and her husband Col. Chip Mattingly US Air Force, retired of Snohomish, WA, and Sara Jean Oliva of Gaithersburg, MD. He has one remaining brother, LCDR Lawrence F. “Frank” Redder US Navy retired, of Stafford, VA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 11:00 am. Friends may visit from 10:00 am until Mass time. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Command Master Chief Donald P. Redder, USN.