Dr. Donald Vreeland Healas died in Everett, WA on June 22, 2010. He was 85 years old.
The older of two children, Donald Healas was born on September 18, 1924 to John W. and Jessie Healas in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Detroit and was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the Eagle Scout Award.
When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 as one of 365 men to replace the Marines lost on Wake Island. Don was stationed with the Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF-531(N) in the South Pacific and served with distinction.
After the war, he returned home and married Helen Tomes on February 2, 1946. Don used the GI Bill to obtain a Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate in Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
He was called in for the Korean War and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve – retiring with 37.5 years of service and he had worked his way up to CW03.
Donald began his working career as a teacher, then as the Director of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program in Detroit. He later became Director of Vocational Education for the Cleveland Public School system in Cleveland, Ohio. He concluded his career as the first Dean of the School of Technical–Vocational Education at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He retired to the Everett area in the state of Washington. Don served as a consultant for the Green River Community College and City University. He finished his working years as a substitute teacher at the Sno-Isle Skill Center.
Don is survived by his wife, Helen; their daughter, Margaret (Sidney Spinner, Jr.); son, George (Dawnita); grandchildren, Sara and William; and by son, John (Elizabeth); as well as many nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at sea by the United States Navy. At his request, there will be no memorial service.
Published in The Herald (Everett) from June 26 to June 27, 2010
The older of two children, Donald Healas was born on September 18, 1924 to John W. and Jessie Healas in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Detroit and was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the Eagle Scout Award.
When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 as one of 365 men to replace the Marines lost on Wake Island. Don was stationed with the Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF-531(N) in the South Pacific and served with distinction.
After the war, he returned home and married Helen Tomes on February 2, 1946. Don used the GI Bill to obtain a Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate in Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
He was called in for the Korean War and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve – retiring with 37.5 years of service and he had worked his way up to CW03.
Donald began his working career as a teacher, then as the Director of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program in Detroit. He later became Director of Vocational Education for the Cleveland Public School system in Cleveland, Ohio. He concluded his career as the first Dean of the School of Technical–Vocational Education at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He retired to the Everett area in the state of Washington. Don served as a consultant for the Green River Community College and City University. He finished his working years as a substitute teacher at the Sno-Isle Skill Center.
Don is survived by his wife, Helen; their daughter, Margaret (Sidney Spinner, Jr.); son, George (Dawnita); grandchildren, Sara and William; and by son, John (Elizabeth); as well as many nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at sea by the United States Navy. At his request, there will be no memorial service.
Published in The Herald (Everett) from June 26 to June 27, 2010
Dr. Donald Vreeland Healas died in Everett, WA on June 22, 2010. He was 85 years old.
The older of two children, Donald Healas was born on September 18, 1924 to John W. and Jessie Healas in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Detroit and was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the Eagle Scout Award.
When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 as one of 365 men to replace the Marines lost on Wake Island. Don was stationed with the Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF-531(N) in the South Pacific and served with distinction.
After the war, he returned home and married Helen Tomes on February 2, 1946. Don used the GI Bill to obtain a Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate in Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
He was called in for the Korean War and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve – retiring with 37.5 years of service and he had worked his way up to CW03.
Donald began his working career as a teacher, then as the Director of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program in Detroit. He later became Director of Vocational Education for the Cleveland Public School system in Cleveland, Ohio. He concluded his career as the first Dean of the School of Technical–Vocational Education at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He retired to the Everett area in the state of Washington. Don served as a consultant for the Green River Community College and City University. He finished his working years as a substitute teacher at the Sno-Isle Skill Center.
Don is survived by his wife, Helen; their daughter, Margaret (Sidney Spinner, Jr.); son, George (Dawnita); grandchildren, Sara and William; and by son, John (Elizabeth); as well as many nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at sea by the United States Navy. At his request, there will be no memorial service.
Published in The Herald (Everett) from June 26 to June 27, 2010
The older of two children, Donald Healas was born on September 18, 1924 to John W. and Jessie Healas in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Detroit and was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the Eagle Scout Award.
When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 as one of 365 men to replace the Marines lost on Wake Island. Don was stationed with the Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF-531(N) in the South Pacific and served with distinction.
After the war, he returned home and married Helen Tomes on February 2, 1946. Don used the GI Bill to obtain a Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate in Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
He was called in for the Korean War and remained in the Marine Corps Reserve – retiring with 37.5 years of service and he had worked his way up to CW03.
Donald began his working career as a teacher, then as the Director of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program in Detroit. He later became Director of Vocational Education for the Cleveland Public School system in Cleveland, Ohio. He concluded his career as the first Dean of the School of Technical–Vocational Education at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He retired to the Everett area in the state of Washington. Don served as a consultant for the Green River Community College and City University. He finished his working years as a substitute teacher at the Sno-Isle Skill Center.
Don is survived by his wife, Helen; their daughter, Margaret (Sidney Spinner, Jr.); son, George (Dawnita); grandchildren, Sara and William; and by son, John (Elizabeth); as well as many nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at sea by the United States Navy. At his request, there will be no memorial service.
Published in The Herald (Everett) from June 26 to June 27, 2010
