When Donald E. Phillabaum was born on 27 April 1912, in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States, his father, Harry Ray Phillabaum, was 25 and his mother, Bertha Mildred Howard, was 21. He married Ralda May Day on 5 November 1938. He lived in Walla Walla, Washington, United States in 1935 and Election Precinct 64 Vancouver, Clark, Washington, United States in 1940. He registered for military service in 1942. He died on 8 December 1996, in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States, at the age of 84.