Don was born February 3, 1932 and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of three boys; Kenny, Bob and Don. Fun times were going to his grandfather’s club house on the Meramec River with all his aunts, uncles, and cousins: swimming, playing volleyball, ping pong, chess, horse shoes, baseball – you name it. Don and Bob were what you might call rowdy young boys who loved to have fun and frequently got into trouble, but never into any “real” trouble. They loved to tease their grandfather… things like spinning the toilet paper tube around and around, making him think they were using a lot more than needed.
His parents eventually divorced, and one evening when he was 14, his mother and her new husband picked Don and Bob up from the movies. He fell asleep on the drive home and woke up on his way to California. This did not make Don happy, but Bob was excited about going to California and seeing all the cowboys. (You’ll have to remember; this was in the 1940’s). Don attended Samuel Gompers Jr. Hi and Washington High School in Los Angeles. His father remarried giving Don another brother, Craig and a sister, Nikki.
In his teens Don would hang out with his brother and some older boys at the home of the neighborhood auto mechanic. A shy young girl related to the mechanic, mentioned to her sister that she thought Don was really cute and would like to invite him to be her date on a school sponsored hayride. Her sister, who was not shy, took it on herself to do the asking for her. Don was smitten, and at the age of 20, he married Colleen, his high school sweetheart, in the little church they attended. They have three children: a girl and two boys (Christine, Don Jr., & Douglas). As the family grew older, they moved to Gardena and became active in the church there, joining the Young Married’s class. He chaperoned the youth group on outings and also served as an usher, deacon, and finance officer. They had great times with their church family going to parties, family camp, and picnics.
While supporting a family of five Don worked at Sprague Engineering as a mechanic, assembling ground support equipment for the aerospace industry. He attended night classes at El Camino Jr. College and Long Beach State followed by several correspondence courses. With three small children in the home he found it best to do his studying in the family camping trailer in the evenings and weekends, eventually becoming an Electro-Mechanical Engineer. Eventually Don left Sprague and started working for Garrett AiResearch later known as AlliedSignal. As a Special Test Equipment Engineer he worked on BART and Apollo Space programs, including life support equipment for aircraft and space (which required a secret clearance) and spent several weeks in Denmark.
After his retirement he fell in love a second time….with a 1928 Sports Coupe. We joined the Orange County Model A Club in 1996 and enjoyed touring in our new old car. Later a 1931 Town Sedan was added to his collection.
The family has kept in touch with several couples they’ve known since school days: partying, playing cards, camping, and gathering together on holidays; but lately, it’s mostly been just getting together and discussing politics and their health.
Don retired at the age of 65 with 7 grandchildren and 8 great- grandchildren. He loved his God, his family, and his country…and he loved to talk. You just dare not get him started on politics.
On Friday, April 29, 2022, Don passed away peacefully at home at the age of 90.
By: (Not so shy anymore) Colleen Schmidt.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18