David Manson Doll

On the morning of Friday Oct 25, 2024, David Manson Doll passed away peacefully in his office at home. He will be remembered foremost for his magnanimity–nothing pleased David more than bestowing his generosity and helping those he held dear; and his work ethic, which compelled him to keep working up until the very moment he passed at age 84.

David was the youngest and last of six children born to Charles Fredrick Doll and Kathryn Elizabeth Doll (nee Ross). David had two sisters, Nancy Jane Ackley and June Kathryn Bedford, and three brothers: Fred Ross Doll, John Thomas Doll, and Don Glenn Doll. David graduated from Bakersfield High School, where his parents attended and met, and where his wife, children and one grandchild attended.

In 1966, David married Sandra Sue Sniffin. They relocated to the Central Coast where he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly SLO in 1971. He became a licensed Architect in 1975. Over his long career he had a solo architectural practice, a business partnership, and worked for large firms like BFGC in Bakersfield, CA, and Darden and Associates in Fresno, CA. He spent the last two decades as an inspector on numerous public works projects, most recently in Fresno’s Central Unified School District.

Keeping a family tradition established by his father and maintained by his older brothers, he was a Freemason and a Shriner, belonging to the Libertas-Security Lodge #466 in Bakersfield, CA, and the Las Palmas-Ponderosa Masonic Lodge and Tehran Shrine after his move to Fresno, CA, in 1991.

David’s civic-mindedness extended over the years to membership in the 20-30 Club, Rotary Club and as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 139, where he spent summers helping his own sons and the sons of others learn outdoor skills, civic responsibility, and an appreciation and concern for nature and open spaces.

David was an avid coin collector, football watcher, garage tinkerer, and genealogy enthusiast. He loved to travel, whether by airline or through flights of fancy. One of his favorite trips was to Europe with his wife, Sandie, and son, Jon. His diligent planning (pre-internet) made the trip unforgettable and the source of countless dinnertime tales. He also loved Hawaii, to which he took the entire family several times, most memorably in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary where he and Sandie exchanged rings in the presence of their adult children and grandchildren. He loved the “sunny beach”, whether vacationing on the Oregon Coast with his daughter’s family, or to the familiar shores of the Central Coast where he spent his college years with his young wife and three small children.

David was a VietNam era veteran who was drafted into the Army. His father, Fred Charles Doll, served in the 8th Army Engineers in France during WWI. His older brothers Ross, Tom and Don served during WWII in the Marines, Army Air Corp, and Navy respectively. In1969, he was granted an early release to attend college. David didn’t love the army, but was grateful for the GI Bill and the Veterans Administration later in life.

David loved his 3 children: James David Doll, Jon Charles Doll, and Jenifer Louise (Doll) Barefield and husband, Terry Taron Barefield-–and even more so–his grandchildren: Jaryn and Jerry Barefield and Clara Doll, whom he loved to spoil. David leaves them behind, and his loving wife and life partner of 58 years, as well as admiring nephews, nieces, and extended kin.

David will be missed, for his generosity, his love and dedication to family, and his jovial nature.

A Service of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Las Palmas Masonic Center, 2992 E Clinton Ave., Fresno, CA.