February 2, 1925 – December 3, 2019
Heaven gained another Hero this week as World War ll veteran, Don Dumoulin, left the earth after 94+ years and moved to an everlasting life with Christ. He joins his wife of nearly 60 years, Billie Jo, who proceeded him in death in 2016.
He is celebrated by his loving family, his three sons and daughters-in-law: Don (Lynda), David (Jennifer) and Mark (Wendy) and six grandchildren: Ryan, Kelsey (Jake), Chase, Ridge, Jonathon and Katie and two great grandchildren: Grace and Jackson who he met just a month ago.
Dad was proud of his family, proud of his service to our country and proud of his pup and companion Teddy!
In June of 1943, as an 18-year-old and days out of high school, Dad enlisted in the Army and was sent to flight school in California. He was trained as a navigator and bombardier and assigned to the 453rd bomb group flying B-24’s. He was stationed in England and flew 26 bombing missions over Germany until the end of the war. He has been a proud member of the VFW and American Legion for over 70 years.
Dad celebrated his service when he and son Don accompanied other Veterans to Washington DC on the 2015 Indy Honor Flight. It was a thrill for Dad to visit the WW ll Memorial and have a Hero’s celebration both in the Washington airport on arrival and once back home in Indianapolis. He often said what a great trip that was and how proud he was to have served our country. He never left the house without his WW II cap on his head.
Following the war Dad moved back to Kokomo where he founded Dumoulin’s Markets. He met the love of his life, Billie Jo Westfall, and after a ten-year courtship they were married and were together for over 60 years. He spent most of his career in the wholesale liquor business helping build several successful companies in Fort Wayne Indiana.
Dad always enjoyed the lake life, and was an avid skier making his last run the summer of his 80th birthday! As a small child, he and his family spent summers on the banks of the Wabash River and on Lake Schaefer. In 1964 Dad made the purchase that became the fabric of our family, a cabin on Lake James in Angola Indiana. We three boys were raised there and have raised our children on the water. Dad was especially proud that our families all enjoy the lake life as much as he did!
Mom and Dad retired to Venice Florida in the late eighties, where they were proud members of the Venice Yacht Club serving as Commodore and First Mate. They deeply valued their friendships from their time in Venice.
Don was an avid coin collector and a member of the United States Numismatic Association for over 70 years. He loved to give coins to his family and always had a supply of buffalo nickels on hand to give young children he would meet.
In 2010, they moved back to Indiana, living six years in Jeffersonville near Mark and Wendy. In 2016 they came to Carmel near Don and Lynda and moved into Carmel Senior Living. We are so thankful for the kindness and caring both Dad and Mother had while living at the “Club”. It was a joy to see how much Dad enjoyed the staff, the meals and the friendships.
While Dad taught us many things, he’ll forever be remembered for his kindness and positive approach to life. He was a gentleman through and through and always found friends around a card table or over a gin! We will most remember how every meal was “the best ever”, and time with family and friends was precious. He truly was a part of the “Greatest Generation”.
Given Dad’s doctor recently told him that he was the healthiest 94-year-old he had ever seen, we certainly were not ready for his passing but thankful that he didn’t suffer during his last days. We’ll be forever grateful that we had him in our lives for so long!
Please join us in raising a glass of gin (with a wedge of lemon) to our Hero, Donald D Dumoulin!
A celebration of his life with military honors from the United States Air Force and the Carmel VFW Post will be held on Sunday December 8th at Leppert Mortuary 900 North Rangeline Road Carmel, IN 46033. Visitation will begin at 1pm followed by the Life Celebration and Military Honors at 2:30pm.
In lieu of Flowers, donations can be made in Dad’s honor to the Indy Honor Flight, PO Box 10, Plainfield, IN 46168
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