Donald Weston DeCoster III was born to Donald W. DeCoster Jr and Rosemary Shelton Garrett in Groton, Connecticut on April 24, 1964. He was born in the New London Submarine base, as his father was in the Navy. He was baptized in 1965 in Bartow, Florida. In 1965 Donald's sister, Catherine DeCoster was born. As children, they traveled a lot; the family lived all over the United States. They lived in Groton, Connecticut, Goose Creek, SC, Bartow, FL, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and later Makaha, Hawaii and Brandon, FL.

He treasured his time in Brandon, Florida. They had a home on the river, where he had many childhood memories. As a high school senior at Providence Christian School in Brandon, Fl, he  graduated valedictorian of his class. He earned a complete ROTC scholarship to the University of  South Florida. As a teenager, he dated his childhood sweetheart and later married Rita Mae Spann. They had a son Donald W DeCoster IV, who was born in January of 1983. As a young family they remained in Florida for a short time and later in South Carolina before settling in Newport News, Va.

It was here that he took a job as a welder working on the USS Enterprise Aircraft Carrier while working for Newport News Shipbuilding. Donald soon joined the United States Navy after testing very high and being offered an opportunity to go to the nuclear power school. After joining the Navy, it was discovered that he was very color blind and could no longer work in the Nuclear Department of the Navy. After 6 months, he was honorably discharged and decided to join the United States Army. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He was later stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany. In 1989 and 1990, he was on the front lines of Desert Storm/Desert Shield while serving under the 3rd Armor division. He was very proud of this time in his life- an opportunity to fight for his country and his fellow citizens. He had multiple service medals and distinguishments upon leaving the Army after approximately 6 years. It was here in Germany that he met his second wife, Kimberly Anne Zackula. They met at a Catholic Service while on base and fell in love. Soon after, Donald and Kimberly welcomed their first child together, Zachary David DeCoster.

They soon traveled back to the States so he could be closer to his family. Not long after returning, he used his Commercial Drivers License to start a career as an over the road truck driver. He loved to travel, so this seemed like a great fit as it enabled him to also take care of his family financially. Over the years, he worked for several different companies and was able to travel the inner 48 states, visiting each one multiple times. He was very good at his profession and was a safe driver. During this time Kim and Donald welcomed their second son, Roy James DeCoster. Although he enjoyed traveling and the nice income that long distance trucking provided, there was always a yearning to be home more with his wife and children.

After more than 10  years of driving, he decided to come home and study to be a nurse. He enrolled in ECPI and studied to  become a registered nurse. He worked as a registered Nurse on the Neurological floor at Riverside hospital in Newport News VA, and later at INOVA Fairfax hospital and Cancer Institute. Like all who work in the medical field, he too was face to face with the recent challenges that the Covid-19 virus  brought us. He decided to become a traveling registered nurse, serving where the need was great. As a  travel nurse, he worked once again on the front lines- this time fighting a new enemy that brought many different challenges to the fore. He worked in Florida while the Covid virus was raging through the  state, and on the front lines of the epidemic in 2020 while working in NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He also worked in Providence Rhode Island Hospital, and more recently on an Indian reservation in Acoma, New Mexico. He was very proud to be able to serve his fellow man once again, although under very different circumstances. He was awarded the INOVA Neuroscience and Spine Institute Annual Award for Outstanding Patient Care.

Less than a month before his 9 month contract was ending and he was due to return home to his family, he was involved in a terrible automobile accident. Ironically, this accident sent him to the ICU of the University of New Mexico, where he fought the last 15 days of his life. He died tragically, leaving behind a family that will miss him dearly. During his last year and a half on Earth, he had recommitted to being active in his children and grandchildren's lives. He loved all of his grandchildren, but had a special relationship with his  granddaughter Angelina. While in the hospital, he shared that the accident had changed his life forever. It had humbled him and reminded him of how fragile life was, but also helped him to put things into perspective. He shared that he was forever changed, and had a strong desire to return to the Lord. He wanted to return to the Anglican Church and dedicate his life to serving the Lord full time. Unfortunately, Don never got to see those wishes come to fruition.

Anyone who knew Don knew how much he loved to ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle on long trips, something he especially enjoyed  while in New Mexico. He also enjoyed deep sea diving and was at one time an avid diver. He loved animals of all types, but especially dogs. While working on the Indian reservation, he befriended a stray dog who regularly roamed the territory, eventually adopting Buddy dog as his own. Those close to Don knew that he thought of Buddy as a son, spoiling him on a regular basis. He and buddy found each other at an opportune time, a time when travel nursing proved to be lonely. Buddy helped him through this lonely time period, and the two were inseparable. Don was also very much into politics. Over the years, he went from being a Republican to a Democrat and reverted back to a Republican again. He loved to debate politics with his mother, Rosemary, and anyone else who wanted to debate for that matter.  Don was also very proud of his military service and felt like he had fought for his rights as an American. He felt very strong about the right to bear arms and the freedoms that the founding fathers of  this country fought for.

Don is survived by his wife, Nazik Elhillali; his sons, Donald W DeCoster IV,  Zachary DeCoster, and Roy DeCoster; two stepchildren, Hamed and Saphia; his father, Donald W. DeCoster Jr and wife, Joan DeCoster; his sister, Catherine Verdin and husband, Randy Verdin; stepsister, Julie Bowden and husband, Phil Bowden; four grandchildren, Jacquez DeCoster, Micah DeCoster, Angelina DeCoster, and Josiah DeCoster; his lifelong friends, Kimberly DeCoster and Rita Shareef; a host of other relatives including nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins,  in-laws, and many others.

He was proceeded in death by his mother, Rosemary Ruddell; stepfather, Craig Ruddell; stepbrother, James Arrington.

Don's life will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions, 2609 Cunningham Dr. in Hampton.