Marion Donald "Don" Wooden

Don Wooden was born April 4, 1931, and died November 25, 2019, at the age of 88. He was born and raised in Houston TX to Marion M. Wooden and Maude Clopton Wooden. Margaret Beth (Wooden) Cooper (deceased) was his only sibling. He met his wife, Laura Frances Grounds, Fran, at church while in high school and was married in 1951. They were married 58 years when Alzheimer disease took Fran in 2010. They had four children, Terry Lynn Wooden Doland, Brenda Kay Wooden Hatcher, Sondra Ann Wooden (deceased), and Douglas Keith Wooden. Don graduated from Milby High School and went to Texas A & M in 1949. He graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree and went to work for Alcoa Aluminum Co., left for two years to serve in the US Air Force in Fairborn, OH., then returned to Alcoa for the remainder of his career. He began with Alcoa in Port Lavaca TX in the pot rooms where aluminum is made. He was transferred to Geelong Australia in 1961, Los Angles, CA in 1964, Albemarle, NC in 1967, Pittsburgh PA in 1968, and finally, Vancouver WA in 1974. He was promoted from the pot rooms to the Purchasing Department in Pittsburgh and continued in purchasing in Vancouver. He retired in 1988. Don would say: life is a banquet, and most poor slobs are starving to death! Don never starved! Reading about the world and seeing the world were among his many favorite activities. He also loved to golf, fish, camp, play bridge, cruise, work with wood and go boating. He bought his boat, The Great Auk, in 1978. He joined the Vancouver Yacht Club, located in Camas WA, and was an active member for many years. He participated in Christmas Shipping for many years, and was Commodore in 1985-1986, and later, an active member of The Blue Gavel. He was a duplicate and party bridge player throughout his life. In retirement he pursued woodworking and woodturning and joined the American Assoc. of Woodturners. He was an active member in SCORE, a volunteer organization that helps new start-up businesses, as a business mentor. He loved family, friends, a good party and loved to tell jokes. He is survived by his daughter Terry Doland, husband Dennis Doland,( Jacksonville FL); daughter Brenda Hatcher, husband Stephen Hatcher (Olympia WA), grandsons Ian Hatcher (Brookline NY) Aaron Hatcher (Redmond WA); Douglas Wooden, wife Sherry Wooden (Ridgefield WA), granddaughters Victoria Picket (Vancouver WA), Lisa Schneider, great granddaughters Phoenix (Kaylah) Schneider, Jessica Strasbaugh, husband Kameron Strasbaugh, all from Heber City UT. When Fran needed to live away from Don in memory care, he found companionship and travel partners with Vi Rohr (deceased), Margene Weld (deceased), and presently with Jeanne Miller (Camas WA). The family is grateful for the love and care he received in the last few years from Jeanne as his ability to care for himself declined. They are also grateful for Don's final home at the Hampton and Ashley Inn for the care and concern they showed Don in his final few months.

Marion Donald "Don" Wooden

April 4, 1931 - November 25, 2019