Donald R. Dickinson, 87

Oct. 12, 1922 - April 8, 2010

Beloved husband of Vera Dickinson. Don died at the age of 87, at home after a short illness on April 8, 2010, with Vera and Hospice by his side.

Don was born Oct. 12, 1922, to Donald Van Pelt Dickinson and Ibel “Babe” Covington, in Canon City, Colo.

He graduated from high school in Las Angeles, Calif., then went onto college at Central Washington College in Ellensburg, Wash., and then at University of Washington-Seattle where he majored in architecture.

Don was called to service when World War II broke out. He left school and join the Army-Air Corps. He became a bombardier-navigator with qualification in small arms: expert qualified with the Thompson submachine gun and marksman qualified with .45 caliber pistol. He served three years in the South Pacific, New Guinea, Philippines and Indo-China.

Don’s service earned him the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal with four campaign stars, Philippine Liberation medal, the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, and was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. Don also obtains his private pilot license during this time.

After the war, Don and his father took over a Union Oil Station and built it into the largest gallon age station in the Northwest in just two years. From there, he moved to Fresno, Calif., where he designed and sold store refrigeration fixtures in the San Joaquin Valley. Don got involved in a partnership that built the Fantasy Motel at Disneyland. In 1964, he started B/B Bowling Supply which became a division of Blackstone Bowl Inc., which, at one time, was undoubtedly the largest supplier in the United States.

Don and his wife Vera, retired to Hayden Lake, almost 18 years ago.

Don’s longtime wishes were to be buried at sea off the Hawaiian coast which will be granted sometime later this year. He truly loved Hawaii and he will be dearly missed.

In lieu of remembrances, donation to the Wounded Soldier’s Fund can be made in Don’s name.