Donald’s Story

Donald was born November 10, 1920 to mother Marjorie Coffin Richards and father Tracy Haven Richards. He spent his younger years living with his father in Yakima Washington following his parents’ unfortunate divorce in 1926. He often spoke fondly of growing up on his grandfather Milton Richard’s farm.

Father Tracy was remarried years later to Dorothy Scheel who became a second mom to Donald. He would describe her in later years as “a jewel… the only mother I knew as a child.” This marriage rendered 3 half siblings to Donald – Tracy Jr. (Mickey), Minette, and Gweneth.

Donald attended Nob Hill Elementary school in Yakima from 1927 thru 1934. He attended 3 different high schools starting with Selah High in Selah Washington, Cowiche High in Cowiche Washington and graduating from Hayward High in Hayward California.

Donald’s mother Marjorie was ultimately remarried to John McLeod who together produced 3 boys / half brothers to Donald – Gordon, Roger and Norman. Because of his parents’ divorce and living 2 states away, he would not meet his half brothers until his teen years as detailed in the picture on the right… Smallest to largest – Norman, Roger, Gordon and Donald.

FAMILY FIRST

In 1937, at the age of 16 Donald volunteered to move to Oakland California with his father’s blessing to assist his mother Marjorie after her second husband John McLeod was tragically killed in an accident leaving her with the 3 young boys and little income to speak of. In spite of having had very little contact with his mother since his parents’ divorce he felt a duty to help her and get to know his brothers. He spent the next 3 years working odd jobs while in school to help provide for the family and serve as a father figure to his brothers.

After graduating from Hayward High school he spent the next year working in mountain camps for the Civil Conservation Corps earning $21 per month mostly as a “canteen steward” (sounds exciting!) and as he told the story in writings uncovered recently, sending all but what he needed for basic necessities back to his mother for support. The following year was spent attending business school and working odd jobs to cover his own room and board as well as continuing to help his mother financially. At a very early age, Donald was demonstrating his deep commitment and selfless dedication to family and helping others – one of many qualities for me that elevates my father to the status of a hero.

LOVE IN THE AIR

In 1940, Donald enlisted in the US Army at the age of 19 where he would ultimately rise to the rank of Technical Sargent. While stationed in the San Francisco area, he attended a USO dance and met a young Marjorie Gilmore who was on her way to a nursing degree at UC Berkeley. It was a match made in heaven. The story I recall hearing as a child was he proposed to her at the foot of Coit Tower with a beautiful view of SF and the bay… Of course she said yes and the 2 were married July 24, 1942, a marriage that would ultimately last 74 years! (Click HERE to see a PDF copy of the vintage marriage service booklet from which the service was performed).

Don and Marjorie’s union was the establishment of what would ultimately become a family of 3 children, 7 grandchildren and at last count, 7 great grandchildren a 2 foster great grandchildren. The story of the growth of this “Leave It To Beaver-like” family can be found HERE.

WWII – TRAVELING THE GLOBE

Donald’s time in the army from August 1940 through October 1945 took him to 8 different installations in 6 different US states as well as France, Germany and England! (Here’s a comprehensive list of his various stations written in his own hand.) Most of this was during the early years of his marriage but it’s clear that the long distance romance stood the test of time!

It was in one of his US stations that he suffered a training accident wherein as the story goes a grenade was tossed a tad too early into a building he had just entered – the concussion of which caused some hearing loss that stayed with him throughout his life. As you can imagine, this could have been a heck of a lot worse! Thankfully there was no shrapnel involved in his injury.

One of the most treasured Richards stories of lore (we’ll let you decide if you believe it or not) surrounds the timing of his deployment to Europe – by his own records, he deployed to France in April of 1945 and from there was moved to Germany in May of 1945 – which all you WWII buffs should recognize as the month/year the Germans surrendered the war effort. We in the Richards family are proud to state that the real reason they surrendered was that they heard Donald was on his way there making any further fighting futile. He accepted no medals for this distinction and remained humble to his dying day but we, his descendants know the real truth,

Donald was honorably discharged in October of 1945 having received the European/African/Middle Eastern service medals, the American Theater service medal and the Good Conduct medal… all of which eldest son Arnie as a young boy innocently traded away for a friend’s marbles some years later. While Donald never spoke of this incident with any upset toward his son, we’re fairly certain it explains Arnie’s 3 year disappearance shortly thereafter.

LIVELIHOODS AFTER THE WAR

Back in the civilian world, Donald would cycle through a number of jobs ranging from sales at Jarman shoes to cashier at Union Bank to buyer for Los Angeles Chemical Co. – all tolled, 6 different jobs in the span of 5 years. Some might look at his work history and call him a “job hopper” – but Donald was definitely not the quitting type so it must have all been a grand plan to ultimately land him at his longest held job at Lockheed Corp in 1961 where he would remain as a commercial contract’s administrator until retirement in 1984.

Full time employment was not his only livelihood – in 1958 he began dabbling as an income tax consultant and over the years built a solid side business as a tax preparer serving countless clients who relied on his diligent and meticulous expertise resolving tax issues. He was notorious at home for working (and often sleeping) long hours at his home office desk, a box of triscuits or wheat thins always within easy reach.

LIFE BEYOND WORK

It’s important to note that Donald was not all about work, work and more work. He LOVED planning vacations and trips for the family including annual trips to Disneyland and many week long road trips during the summer including the epic houseboat trip to Lake Powell in the early 70s. He even backpacked in the Grand Canyon with Arnie and Scott in 1977. And every once in a while (though it WAS rare), he’d put on a pair of swim trunks and take a dip in the pool – he was famous for spending WAY more time maintaining the pool than swimming in it.

Donald’s zest for fun, travel and friends was a key part of his rich life that continued long after he retired in 1984. Surely he most enjoyed life when he was behind the wheel of his beloved Lazy Daze motor home, traveling the countryside with Marjorie by his side. They embarked on countless long distance trips across North America including trips to British Columbia and upper Canada, the eastern seaboard, Florida and many points in between.

They made many friends in their “Caravan Club” (the Nomads) and were out somewhere camping with them monthly. It was truly the focus of their retirement and gave them both great joy and freedom. They even lived in the motorhome for several months after selling their home of 40+ years in North Hills while waiting for the right downsized home to materialize!

GOLDEN YEARS

Donald was always generally very healthy. He remained fairly active well into his 80s but not without some challenges in the latter years.

In the late 1990s a neuropathy condition in his cervical spine caused nerve damage that made it difficult for him to hold his head up without pain and significantly affected his posture over time.

A special serum treatment in mid 2000 offered some temporary relief and hope for a turnaround but the damage was already done and his disability became permanent. But ever the optimistic one, Donald did not let this get him down. He forged forward with life with that ever present smile and good nature. Read these letters to family addressing his condition for a taste of that nature. The lesson he gave us can best be encapsulated in the phrase: “keep your head up… even when you can’t!”

In 2008 he suffered a heart related episode that ultimately required a stent in his left ventricle artery and sidelined him for a few weeks. Thankfully his heart served him well for 12 more years thereafter, a testament to his durability and fortitude.

Donald and Marjorie lived independently until around 2012 when physical limitations and early dementia/memory loss necessitated a move to assisted living. Donald was always one of the more popular residents with the staff because of his pleasant engaging demeanor – never complaining, always complimenting. Both of them had always been the ones helping others and it was not easy for them initially to be on the receiving end but as Donald always did, he made the best of it with a smile on his face.

A CENTURY OF LIFE!

On November 10^th, 2020, we were blessed to celebrate Donald’s 100^th birthday!! In younger days he had often commented about how he wanted to make it to 100. Clearly Pop, the universe was listening! While the pandemic made it difficult to be with him much during 2020, we were grateful to be able to spend this special day with him. How many families can say they have a centenarian among them??

In December of 2020, one month after his birthday, he tested positive for the Covid-19 virus which had been spreading through his living facility despite the staff’s best efforts to keep it at bay. Because of facility lock-downs during the height of the pandemic, I had only been able to see him 2 or 3 times during the year (my norm was at least once/week). He seemed to be holding his own against the virus but somewhere during week 2 he took a major turn for the worse. It was more than his 100 year-old body could handle and he passed quickly on December 18, 2020 with his familiar hospice nurse Cathy Cunningham by his side holding his hand. She had just read him a note I had written to him earlier in the day shortly before he passed. While it was difficult knowing none of us could be with him in his final moments, I will be forever grateful for Cathy who was our voice when we couldn’t be there for him.

My father Donald quite simply will always be my hero. His example was how he lived and treated others. I will forever hear his voice saying “never settle for a halfway job” and “patience and fortitude!”. And by his example he taught all of us to be kind, gentle and make others smile whenever possible. And always keep your head up… even when you can’t.

FUN FACTS ABOUT DONALD

Favorite snacks – Wheat Thins, Triscuits, Ritz crackers, Jordan almonds and Black Walnut ice cream.
Favorite celebrity (as far as we knew) – Julie Andrews. He also was a big Alan Sherman fan.
Favorite movie – The Sound Of Music.
Favorite politician – resoundingly, Ronald Reagan.
He was famous for – being late for dinner, writing letters and greetings in corny prose and of course, Grandpa Jokes!
He played the Ocarina.
He would often don a Santa Claus suit at Christmas for any young grandchildren or great grandchildren in the family.
He had a pilot’s license and flew light aircraft in the 50s. Once, taking Marjorie flying out over the ocean he encountered nasty turbulence. He confidently assured her he had everything under control. After they landed, he calmly dispatched to the bathroom and threw up.