Donald Stewart Wroe

Donald Stewart Wroe was born in San Diego, California on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1943. He grew up in North Park, the second of four children born to Henry Leseberg Wroe of Wyoming and Ida Virginia (Ranf) Wroe of Pennsylvania. His father Henry was a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Pacific during World War II, and a decades-long employee of the Firestone Company. His mother Virginia was a homemaker.

A graduate of San Diego High School class of 1961 and of San Diego State University with a B.A. in Business Administration, Donald “Don” Wroe lived first on Mississippi Street and later Arizona Street, where his parents purchased their family home. Don often shared fondly his memories of growing up in San Diego where he played ball at Morley Field, went swimming at the Mission Beach Plunge, and watched the North Park Toyland Parade from his front porch.

His interest in business would ultimately lead him to an over thirty-year career in the Title Insurance industry. He started “in the basement”- literally in the Mail Room of Safeco Title Insurance Company while working his way through college, before world events intervened. Don served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1968-71, and in Vietnam from 1968-69. He retired from Chicago Title Insurance Company having been a respected Manager and Underwriter in the Commercial and Industrial Division of the company. He lent his professional skills to projects large and small, and the “topping out beams” of many familiar structures which fill the San Diego skyline – such as One America Plaza and Petco Park – bear his signature.

In 1975 he was introduced to the love of his life, Dorothy “Dottie” (Mello) Padilla, through mutual friends. They were married in June 1976 at The Little Chapel of the Roses, Glen Abbey in Bonita, CA. Dottie was a young widow with three small children, all of whom Don took fully into his heart. In 1981 they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Kimberly, and the family was complete. Don was a living example that fatherhood is much more than biology. He is remembered as a quiet, dignified and incredibly selfless and strong man who never failed to think of others first or to guide and teach his family through the simple eloquence of his example. He and Dottie raised their four children in the College Estates neighborhood of eastern Chula Vista.

Don was incredibly skilled with his hands. Many tile and brick mosaics, room additions and hand-crafted furniture graced his home over the years, courtesy of his love for tinkering and building and his creativity. He said he would have been a carpenter or commercial home builder, except he was too much of a perfectionist.

Don loved the outdoors and one of his greatest joys in life was spending time at the family cabin on Mt. Laguna. It was at this cabin he taught his children skills they would otherwise have never learned and exposed them to the beauty of nature. It was both an escape and a never-ending carpentry project – pure heaven.

In his youth Don played some golf and tennis, but his true sports love was as a devoted lifelong Padres and Chargers fan. He fondly shared memories of the early days when the Padres played at Lane Field and the Chargers at Balboa Stadium, and attended many games at Jack Murphy Stadium in Mission Valley using company seats during the Tony Gwynn era. He gave unconditional support to his children’s experiences in team sports, never missing Saturday soccer games, Little League games or his daughter Kimberly’s softball traveling tournaments.

Don delighted in staying abreast of current events and was engaged in civic affairs in Chula Vista, where he served as campaign Treasurer for many of his son Stephen’s City Council campaigns. He was a trusted advisor and sounding board.

In June 2021, Don was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and for many months was supported and cared for by his children and grandchildren. True to his character, he displayed incredible strength and determination in the face of painful challenges – never losing touch with his dry wit and sense of humor. He passed from this world supported by love and care on February 25, 2022.

He was predeceased by his beloved Dottie suddenly in 1997. He is survived by his four children – Stephen Padilla of Chula Vista, Lotti (Padilla) Conway of Vista and her husband Blake, Jason Padilla of Chula Vista, and Kimberly Wroe of Chula Vista. He was predeceased by a sister Judith Ann and brother-in-law Walt “Butch” Maxam, and leaves behind a brother Marvin Henry Wroe and sister Margaret Susan Maxam of Tucson, Arizona. He is also survived by three grandchildren – Katelyn Padilla of Wilmington, Ohio, Ashleigh Padilla-Goins and her husband Nelson Padilla-Goins of Chula Vista, Megan Padilla of San Diego, and sixteen nieces and nephews.