From the military to the classroom, Don and Gail Beaton have devoted their lives to helping others. The couple has chosen to make a blended gift—lifetime giving coupled with an estate gift—to a scholarship in their names at IU Kokomo, cementing a legacy that will continue for generations to come.
If you were to distill Don’s and Gail Beaton’s lives into a single word, it would be “service.”
That spirit has guided them through every chapter—from Don’s years in the military to their shared decades in education, and now, to their enduring commitment to IU Kokomo students through scholarship support and a bequest in their will.
Their connection to the city of Kokomo began decades ago in a serendipitous military posting. The young couple moved to the city when Don was stationed at Bunker Hill Air Force Base (now Grissom Air Reserve Base) in July 1966. They spent less than two years in Indiana before receiving orders to move to a base in Germany in March 1968.
When they returned to Kokomo in August 1972, Don and Gail decided to plant roots in the city, making it their home base for the rest of their lives.
The impact of education
Don served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force—plus three years in the Navy—before turning his attention to education and social work. As a retired veteran, Don attended IU Kokomo during the day with traditional students. Eventually, he earned associate and bachelor’s degrees in general studies before receiving his Master of Social Work in 1989 from IU Indianapolis.
Eventually, he became a social work educator at IU Kokomo, continuing his lifelong commitment to service through teaching and mentorship.
“Basically, the more I was in school, the more I enjoyed it. Then, I taught for a few years and that gave me a new outlook on education,” Don says.
For Gail, teaching has always been both a calling and a joy. Her career began in art education before she transitioned to teaching first grade. Over the years, she taught in four states and in Germany, adapting to new classrooms, new students, and new ways of connecting through learning.
But her curiosity and compassion eventually led her to earning credentials in sociology and becoming a clinical sociologist. That decision opened the door to what would become her life’s work.
At IU Kokomo, Gail taught sociology for nearly 28 years, eventually becoming best known for her primary course on marriage and family. It was a class that combined her academic expertise with her empathy and life experience, offering students a space to think deeply about relationships, society, and what it means to build a family.
“When I was teaching there, I got to meet a lot more of the students and could appreciate their experiences with scholarships,” Gail says.
The deep familiarity with the student experience illuminated an opportunity for Don and Gail to make a transformational impact on the campus community.
An empowering, enduring legacy
The Beatons had already shaped countless lives through teaching when they made the decision to continue supporting students through the creation of a scholarship.
“I was a scholarship student through my college career, so I knew how important that financial help was,” Gail explains. “It made all the difference in whether I could go to college or not. In fact, it changed what university I attended.”
The parameters for their scholarship directly reflect their service values. The award is open to IU Kokomo applicants with preference given first to children of a U.S. military service member and student veterans—a nod to Don’s own military background and the history of the area.
“There is a good population of military personnel in the area, so we knew that it would be helpful,” Don says.
The Beatons’ bequest exemplifies their commitment to the campus community that made an indelible impression on their lives and will further fund the already established Don and Gail Beaton Scholarship. Indiana University Foundation endowed scholarships currently distribute 4.5% of the principal in the form of a student award each year. This meaningful gift means even more students from a military family will receive a scholarship just like Gail did.
When Don and Gail talk about Kokomo today, there’s a warmth in their voices. The couple’s fondness is inextricably linked to their time as students and educators at IU Kokomo. The community, which began as a temporary stop in their journey, became their lifelong home.
They’ve witnessed IU Kokomo and the city it calls home evolve over the decades, and through their work and philanthropy, they’ve helped shape its future. Their story is not just one of personal success—it’s one of steadfast commitment to service, education, and the belief that giving back strengthens us all.