Donald George Peterson was the youngest child borne from the marriage of Francis Charles Peterson and Mabel Claire Apker on November 6th, 1923, at Everett, Snohomish Co., Washington. Two older children, Francis Charles Jr., b. June 19, 1916, and Marjorie C. (Claire?), b. Dec 1917, were also both born at Everett, Snohomish County, Washington where the family was living during the 1920's and 1930's. According to the 1920 Census, taken on Jan 6th of that year, Francis Charles Sr. was owner and salesman of a retail auto shop in Everett and was purchasing a home for his growing family. In 1930, however, when the U.S. Census was taken on Apr 4th of that year, he had become the owner and dealer of a shop that sold electrical apparatus. Their home at 3128 Tulalip Ave., Everett, Washington, was valued at $3000, had no mortgage and had a radio. Don's mother, who went by her middle name of Claire, passed away on Dec 23rd, 1931 [reason for death and location of burial unk.]. This had a devastating effect on Don, although he rarely talked about it, but he was only eight yrs. old when he lost his mother and his life changed forever. His father moved his children to California and, when the 1940 U.S. Census was conducted on Apr 13th, 1940, Don, his father, his brother and sister and his paternal grandmother, Anna S. Peterson, a widow, were living at 831 54th Street in Oakland, Alameda Co., California and had been living there since at least 1935. Rent was $30 per month. Don was 16, still in school, His father now owned a machinery shop and his older brother, now 23, helped at the shop. His sister was a stenographer for an Insurance Company. Don graduated in 1942, after the beginning of World War II. He told me, more than once, that he was given a suitcase for a graduation present. He immediately enlisted in the military. His headstone shows he was a Machinist's Mate in the Navy, and that he served during Korea. He told his children and stepchildren that he had served during World War II and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. I was only able to find an enlistment date of 1949 with a discharge date of 1953. He also married Patricia Quist, a native Californian. Three children were born during their marriage, a daughter, Claudette Marie, b. Dec 4th, 1947, and two sons, Stephen James, b. Dec 15th, 1948 and Michael Charles, b. Aug 4th, 1951. He worked at Aero Jet General Industries in San Ramon, California and repaired radios and TVs to bring in extra income for his family, but the marriage ended in divorce in the late 1950's or early 1960's. He was given full custody of all three children, something pretty unusual for that period, and he supported his children without child support from their mother. He also joined Parents Without Partners and it was there that he met Patricia Taylor Webb, a divorcee with three daughters. They dated and cared for each other enough that they introduced their children to each other. They combined their families by getting married at 1st Presbyterian Church at Hayward, California on May 19th, 1962. Don moved himself and his children from their home in Martinez, and Patricia moved herself and her children from their home in Oakland, and they moved into a home in Castro Valley, in Alameda County, California. It was a big adjustment for everyone involved, but the children enjoyed having new brothers and sisters, for the most part. It was not like what was portrayed on TV shows, but Pat and Don cared for each other and the children cared about each other as well. Due to work changes, Don accepted a job at Wah Chang Industries in Albany, Linn Co., Oregon and the entire family moved to Oregon in early 1966. It was another big adjustment as they lived five miles from town and depended upon the school bus to get back and forth to school and their parents to get to town. They went on many trips together, exploring Oregon, where Patricia had grown up as a child and teenager, and where her ancestors had settled in the 1800's. Finances were an issue, however, along with other issues; there was stress that became worse as time went on, coming to a head in December, 1969. They divorced and Don moved to Jefferson in Marion Co., while Patricia and her daughters moved into Albany. By now, both sons had joined the Navy; Claudette had married but had not lived in the home for many years before that. Patricia's oldest daughter was in college, her middle daughter was working and going to college at night, and her youngest daughter had been in the hospital, having had back surgery; she was still in high school. But the couple wanted to reconcile, which is just what they did, remarrying on May 19th, 1971. They lived in Jefferson, Oregon, for a time, then moved to Silverton in Marion County, a few miles from Silver Falls State Park, in a quiet place out of town. Don continued to work at Wah Chang and Patricia gardened and took care of the house, fixing meals, doing laundry, etc. She always woke Don up in the morning when it was time for work, which she did on Monday, June 25th, 1984. He had been complaining lately about not feeling very well, although he couldn't quite say what was wrong. He was diabetic and had had heart issues for a long time. When he didn't come in for breakfast, Patricia went to check on him and found him on the bed, gone forever from this life. Nothing could be done, although she called the fire department and they came immediately, doing CPR. A memorial service was held for him at the Silverton Baptist Church and his remains were interred at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. He is at rest with his parents, reunited with his dear mother who he missed so very much, in Heaven.