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Donald James Ewing
Donald James Ewing, professor emeritus of engineering at the University of Toledo, died suddenly on Friday, March 9, at Ohio Living Swan Creek. He was 87.
Born in Toledo on January 7, 1931, the son of Donald James Ewing Sr. and Hazel (Fassler) Ewing, Donald graduated from Waite High School in 1948. He continued his education at the University of Toledo (UT), where he received a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1952. He went on to earn a Master's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Returning to Toledo, Donald joined the UT faculty in 1954; shortly afterwards, he met a secondary education major named Katharine Dawn Roose. Donald and Kathy were married in 1957. After several years of university teaching and summer research positions at Argonne National Laboratory, Hughes Aircraft, and Bell Laboratories, Donald received a National Science Foundation fellowship to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Donald combined his dissertation research with his teaching career at UT and earned his PhD in 1971.
From 1973-1975 Donald, Kathy, and their two daughters relocated to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where he was the founder and chair of the Systems Engineering Department at the University of Petroleum and Minerals.
The rest of his career was spent at UT, where he founded and chaired the Computer Science and Engineering Department. Donald retired from the university in 1991, returning to serve as interim chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science for several years.
Active in a number of professional organizations, Donald was a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and was chosen by its Toledo section as "Engineer of the Year" for 1989-1990.
Donald enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, from cross-country summer camping trips to an around-the-world journey to and from Saudi Arabia. After retirement, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed many diving expeditions in Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Throughout his teaching career and retirement, Donald was very proud of the success of his students and kept in touch with many of them.
In addition to his wife Kathy, Donald is survived by his two daughters, Linda Ewing (Eric Brooks) of Brooklyn, NY and Suzanne Ewing (Charles Talor) of Valdosta, GA, and three grandchildren, Katie Riddle of Chicago, IL, USMC LCpl Benjamin Talor of Iwakuni, Japan, and Amanda Talor of Valdosta, GA. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Stepp; nieces, Patricia Witt and Lois Sharp, and nephews, Michael Stepp, Ken Sharp, Calvin (Amy) Sharp, and their children.
There will be no visitation. A memorial service will take place at a later date. The family suggests tributes to the UT Foundation/Ewing Outstanding Junior Award or to Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice. Online condolences may be shared at
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2 Entries
To the Ewing's family. I'm sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort be with you at this difficult time , and be comforted , and strengthen by God'sWord in Isa.35:5,6.
CW
March 26, 2018
Don was teaching in electrical engineering when I was a senior in civil engineering. We were colleagues at UT for more than 30 years. Don was caring, sincere and devoted.
Jerry Frederick
March 18, 2018
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