Donald Loren Bellinger

Donald Loren Bellinger (commonly called Don) was born on May 7, 1947, from the union of his parents: Paskul Bellinger and Lorene Bellinger-Dilworth in Los Angeles, California. He was the middle child of three boys, and spoke fondly of his childhood experiences with his parents and siblings. Both parents preceded him in death, along with his older brother, Henry Bellinger, and younger brother, LaVal Dillworth.

Don grew up and went to school in Los Angeles, California. He attended 61st Street Elementary, John Muir Middle school, and was an outstanding Track Athlete while attending and graduating from Manual Arts High School,1965. His love and dedication to family was instilled in him early on due to his family living closely in a family duplex with his immediate and extended family.

In 1968 Don met his first wife, Sherrie who entered into the relationship with two daughters, Gina and Leah, whom he raised as his own,never referencing them as anything other than his daughters. Don and Sherrie married in 1970 and welcomed a third daughter, Corie Dawn. Don was a very active and devoted father and husband. He supported his family throughout these years with employment at Bethlehem Steel and General Motors before becoming a Building & Grounds Worker in 1974 at LAUSD. Always a leader by nature, In 1976 Don began advancing in his career and held positions as an Assistant Plant Manager and Plant manager for several schools before becoming an HVAC Engineer with the LAUSD Area office. They lived a simple and happy life on 88th street where families from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange County and San Diego would gather all of the time to have family parties or just to hang out.There were cousins of all ages running around, dancing, playing cards and just having family fun. The door was always open to the family. No one was turned away. Don and Sherrie loved to travel and would often take road trips across the states with their family. Family was everything to Don and he was a true leader for his, even raising and supporting his grandchildren throughout the years.

In 2004, Sherrie and Don decided to slow down and do more as this was the first time in many years they were empty nesters. Before this could happen, she suddenly passed away. Don then decided to retire from LAUSD in 2006.

Despite the heartache, Don’s resilient spirit carried him through and he found love again. He was enjoying retirement, started dating and traveling when he fell ill in 2011 while vacationing in New Orleans. After months in the hospital, Don was nursed back to health with the love and support of Judy Coleman, who never left his side. Once he regained his strength, they returned to Los Angeles. On May 10, 2013, he decided that he was going to live his life the best way he could after that experience. He married his second wife, Judy Coleman, who entered the relationship with two children, John and Renee, and one bonus grandchild, whose lives he became positively engaged in.

Don was no stranger to adventure and having fun. He loved to fish, watch sports, barbecue, travel and camping. It was not unusual to drop by the house and see him tinkering with his cars, starting and sometimes not finishing a project in the backyard. He was a man that did not pay others to do a job that he could do himself. He was not shy to get dirty, work with his hands, and rarely asked for help. He could do it all. If you had the pleasure of being in his company you are familiar with his hilarious stories of his mischievous days as a young man in Los Angeles. You knew about his adventures in his big rig, his most hated job at Pizza Hut and his love of playing pool and having a cold one in hand. Don had so much knowledge and could tell you about all of the local history in Los Angeles, all the Black owned mom and pop shops, restaurants and could point to any corner and tell you a story about it. He truly pulled you in with his love for life. Don would often call and visit family members if he was in the area. He was never one to stay still, always on the move. He loved attending get-togethers, his great grandchildren's activities, hanging out with his LAUSD/ tradesman buddies, and spending quality time with his wife Judy, all the while capturing each moment in a photo. Don was willing to support everyone, if you extended him a sincere invitation. He was a man of principle, imbued with love and respect for those he cared about. Don was a man of pure heart, who forgave where others wouldn’t and gave when others did not. He embodied characteristics that people found admirable across various cultures. Don was a sage, many went to him for sound advice or inspiration. He always shared his wisdom and would mentor those who wanted it and often pushed and encouraged them to take on positions that they did not think they were qualified for.

Donald passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023. He leaves to cherish his memory and legacy of love: wife, Judy Bellinger; Daughters, Gina Watkins, Leah Muhammad, Corie Bellinger; Bonus-Children, Rene and Johnnie Coleman; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, in-laws and many friends.