Tributes

Donald was born in Silverton, Oregon to Willard and Katherine Kellis. He lived in Copco, California during his early youth and graduated from Yreka High School in 1939. After graduation he attended Sacramento Jr. College and later, a Trade School for Aeronautics in Eugene, Oregon. He started his career with Lockheed Aircraft in Los Angeles, California, working in the tail sections of P-38 airplanes. He received several monetary awards and a couple of deferments from the U.S. Military draft for his inventive designs and superior work. At Lockheed, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Hastings, known as Doris, a “Rosie the Riveter”. They married in 1942. He was a WWII veteran, serving under General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines and later, Occupied Japan. The friendship he made with his Japanese interpreter lasted throughout his lifetime. After the war, he worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in hydroelectric power in California: first at Shasta Dam and later, Folsom Dam. In 1966 he was named Employee of the Year in recognition of outstanding contributions. In 1969 he received a meritorious award for thirty-two years of service. During his working career, he was an amateur radio operator making phone patches all over the world for those seeking to speak with family--especially military personnel and those in the South Pacific. He built his own 60-foot transmission tower and continued this service for a few years into his retirement. He and Doris enjoyed traveling. A highlight of their travels was a trip to Hawaii and America Samoa. They joined the Airstream Trailer Wally Byam Caravan Club and traveled throughout the 48 states and Canada with their trailer. He became President of the Oregon WBCCI Airstream Travel Club and Doris was First Lady during the time of their membership. One of the yearly events was attending the Pendleton Round-Up and raising money, not only for the Main Street Cowboys, but also for a charity in that area. They contributed Care Bears that Doris made, and Don’s handmade wooden clocks and jewelry boxes, for the raffles. He had a big heart for young people attending college and gave stipends to nearly a dozen to help them attain their educational goals. To further his commitment to young people attending college, he and his wife established a scholarship endowment fund at Western Illinois University in memory of a grandniece. Hobbies included: metal fabrication and woodworking such as building furniture, boats, paddle boards, travel trailers, clocks, and jewelry boxes. He also enjoyed helping his wife with her hobby of making Care Bears. He never sold his clocks or jewelry boxes. They always were for gifts. Donald was an avid golfer well into his 80s, playing every day with three other friends and Doris always at his side as scorekeeper. He was a member of a Model Airplane Group and constructed many glider planes, some were of his own design. He and Doris flew the radio-controlled glider planes. They started this hobby when they lived in Fair Oaks California and continued after moving to Woodburn Oregon. Gardening was a passion with him. He shared his produce with neighbors and friends and put up a stand in his front yard for anyone who might stop by for free veggies. Charities became a big part of his life. He spent countless hours contributing to them in his last years. He was awesomely generous and left a legacy of memories and a giant positive imprint on both family and friends but never realized the immensity. He will be greatly missed. Donald was preceded in death by his wife Doris, of 71 years, and daughter, Cynthia. Survivors include a sister, Virginia Oliver of Woodburn, and a brother Derald of Portland, plus a niece in Illinois, and a nephew in Portland; two grandnephews, two great-grandnieces, and two great-grandnephews, all out-of-state. Private internment with military honors will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, OR.

Tributes

Donald Willard Kellis

December 13, 1921 - March 10, 2016