DONALD PROCTOR GOWING August 27, 1918 -- February 26, 2016 Our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully in Seattle. He was born 97 years ago in Medford, MA and graduated from Sharon High School, MA (1936). He served in the US Army during WWII and was discharged as Major in 1946. Don then married his high school sweetheart, Mary Grover Brigham, in April 1947. He earned a PhD in 1952 from Cornell University in plant physiology and specialized in tropical agricultural research (pineapple and sugarcane). Don worked at the Pineapple Research Institute (Honolulu) from 1952-64, at Hawaiian Agronomics Company, International (Hilo, Iraq, Iran) from 1964-82 and at Henry Jones IXL (China) from 1982-84. After retirement he volunteered at the B.P. Bishop Museum (Honolulu) and at the Center for Urban Horticulture and the Botany Department (University of Washington, Seattle). Family and friends will always remember his thoughtfulness and compassion, sense of humor, ability to recite poetry remembered from high school; and his love of classical music, musicals, and operettas and their lyrics. He was generous with his time, fully supported activities of his wife and three daughters and traveled the world with them. Don especially enjoyed keeping in touch by e-mail with friends everywhere. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Mary, in 2009. He is survived by his loving daughters Marcia Gowing (Ralph Hinegardner) and Sally Breuer of Seattle, WA, and Linda Bocek (John Bocek) of Athens, GA; by three grandchildren, Christina Breuer (Edward Perry), Andreas Breuer and Annamaria Pagano; and great grandson, Leo Perry Breuer. His family is most appreciative of the excellent care he received from his Ballard and Polyclinic doctors over many years and the outstanding compassion and care of his doctors, nurses, and staff at Swedish First Hill during his last two weeks. We also appreciate the caring rehabilitation from Columbia Lutheran Home and Kline Galland Home Care Services. He chose to have no memorial service and no funeral. Continuing his life of service to others, he is participating in the Willed Body Program of the University of Washington.
DONALD PROCTOR GOWING August 27, 1918 -- February 26, 2016 Our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully in Seattle. He was born 97 years ago in Medford, MA and graduated from Sharon High School, MA (1936). He served in the US Army during WWII and was discharged as Major in 1946. Don then married his high school sweetheart, Mary Grover Brigham, in April 1947. He earned a PhD in 1952 from Cornell University in plant physiology and specialized in tropical agricultural research (pineapple and sugarcane). Don worked at the Pineapple Research Institute (Honolulu) from 1952-64, at Hawaiian Agronomics Company, International (Hilo, Iraq, Iran) from 1964-82 and at Henry Jones IXL (China) from 1982-84. After retirement he volunteered at the B.P. Bishop Museum (Honolulu) and at the Center for Urban Horticulture and the Botany Department (University of Washington, Seattle). Family and friends will always remember his thoughtfulness and compassion, sense of humor, ability to recite poetry remembered from high school; and his love of classical music, musicals, and operettas and their lyrics. He was generous with his time, fully supported activities of his wife and three daughters and traveled the world with them. Don especially enjoyed keeping in touch by e-mail with friends everywhere. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Mary, in 2009. He is survived by his loving daughters Marcia Gowing (Ralph Hinegardner) and Sally Breuer of Seattle, WA, and Linda Bocek (John Bocek) of Athens, GA; by three grandchildren, Christina Breuer (Edward Perry), Andreas Breuer and Annamaria Pagano; and great grandson, Leo Perry Breuer. His family is most appreciative of the excellent care he received from his Ballard and Polyclinic doctors over many years and the outstanding compassion and care of his doctors, nurses, and staff at Swedish First Hill during his last two weeks. We also appreciate the caring rehabilitation from Columbia Lutheran Home and Kline Galland Home Care Services. He chose to have no memorial service and no funeral. Continuing his life of service to others, he is participating in the Willed Body Program of the University of Washington.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
