Donald Edward Dias

Donald Edward Dias, devoted husband and father, was called home to his heavenly Father on Monday, April 25, 2022. He passed from this life peacefully with Dina, his loving bride of 67 years, at his side. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Rev. 21:4 NLT A native Louisianian, Donald was born in Plaquemine, LA, on May 9, 1932, to Edward Nicholas and Florence Sparks Dias. He attended Baker High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, proudly serving aboard the heavy cruiser, USS Bremerton. While he was home on leave in October 1954, he met the California girl who would quickly become the love of his life. Donald and Dina were married a few short months later on February 19, 1955, and together they built a rich life that spanned nearly seven decades and took them from Baton Rouge to the Midwest and back again to Baton Rouge. Along the way, the couple became proud parents to four sons and spent the next 15 years raising a family in the rural farming community of Oakwood, IL. After the family’s return to Baton Rouge in 1970, Donald enjoyed a lengthy career as a power plant operator on the campus of Louisiana State University in the shadows of Tiger Stadium. A lifelong LSU sports fan, he retired in 1997. Donald had a strong Christian faith and has served as a deacon at several churches they attended. He is survived by his wife, Dina; four sons, Gary (Cherisse) from Prosper, TX, Don (Tina) from Lewisville, TX, Darrel from Mount Holly, NC, and John (Darleen) from Baton Rouge; sister, Patricia Harris; nine grandchildren, Ashley, Kyle, Morgan, Karin, Michelle, Chris, Jay, Nick and Chloe; and three great-grandchildren, Ellie, Bailey and Cooper. Donald is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Florence; sisters, Catherine Sanders and Betty Lou Dias; and twin brothers, Jerry and Gerald. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Monday, May 2, 2022, from 10:00am until the time of funeral services at 12:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Amedisys Foundation at https://www.amedisys.com/about/foundation/.