Donald Atwood Stratton, 89

Donald Atwood Stratton, 89, of The Dalles, Ore., “went to be with The Lord” on March 4, 2013.

Don was born to James and Minnie Geery Stratton on April 16, 1923, in Chinook, the youngest of eight children.

In 1936, Don the family moved to Martin City. Don grew up hunting, fishing and logging with his family throughout the valley.

In 1942, Don joined the Army and spent much of his time in England, attached to the 8th Air Force.

Don married Clara Rodgers in 1947, in Hungry Horse. Don spent the next years working in construction, on the Hungry Horse Dam and at Anaconda Aluminum Company, all the while raising his four children with Clara on the family homestead. In 1958, Don and Clara moved their family to The Dalles, to work at the Harvey Aluminum Plant. Don spent the next 26 years as a maintenance supervisor. It was work he took great pride in.

Don and Clara began their retirement in 1984; sadly, it was shortened when Clara passed away in 1986.

In 1987, Don married Rita Walston. Don and Rita spent many years traveling to their winter home in Bouse, Ariz., the Seattle area to visit their children and Montana to see family, making good friends along the way.

Don was a man of great honor, loyalty and commitment. He was a fun, loving and kind husband, daddy and grandpa. He instilled a great love of music, cooking, camping, hunting and fishing in his children and grandchildren. He gave us a beautiful gift in all of these cherished memories with him, and we all agree that the time spent doing all these “things” wasn't nearly as important as spending time with the man we did them with. We are all better people for just having known him.

Don “was welcomed into Heaven by Jesus,” his parents, his brothers and sisters, Clarence, Dee, William, Mary, Eugene, Ellwood and Orminta, and his wife, Clara.

 Don “went on to ‘get things ready’ for the rest of us,” including his wife, Rita Stratton; his sons, Frank and Ruthie Stratton, and Rob and Debbie Stratton; his daughters, Bonnie and Sonny Hill, and Penny Lepinski; stepchildren, Ed Walston, Mike Walston, Cindy and Cliff Baker and Debbie Stratton, 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

There will be a graveside service for family and friends at 1 p.m. Friday, March 8, at Odd Fellows Cemetery in The Dalles.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be sent to the Celilo Cancer Center and Hearts of Hospice. Spencer, Libby & Powell is caring for the family.