Darrel David Douglas

1930 - 2013

Darrel David Douglas

December 8, 1930 - May 15, 2013

SALEM - Darrel David Douglas, age 82, died on May 15, 2013 at his home in Salem, Oregon. He had complications arising from congestive heart failure.

Darrel was born on December 8, 1930 in Sydney, Montana. His parents were Earl and Florence (Hull) Douglas. He was an only child. His father was a lineman for Bonneville Power Administration and the family moved frequently throughout the Northwest during Darrel's childhood years.

Darrel graduated from Chehalis High School (Washington) in 1948 and received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in June 1954. He served honorably in the United States Coast Guard from January 1951 to July 1952.

After graduation from college, Darrel worked as a civil engineer in Los Angeles, California. He married Donna (Rooney) in 1955. They moved to Seattle, Washington and, with a growing family, to Portland, Oregon, where he continued to work in the fields of occupational health and industrial hygiene. In 1974, he went to work at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, in New Mexico, gaining national recognition for his work in respirator research.

The family moved to Salem in 1978 when Darrel accepted a gubernatorial appointment with the Oregon State Department of Labor - as head of the Accident Prevention Division - a post he held for eight years. He spent the remainder of his professional life as a consultant in the field of workplace ventilation and respirators. He was an active member - and served on local, regional and national boards - of several professional industrial hygiene associations, including ACGIH, AIHA and ABIH. He contributed to many industry publications, including Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology.

Darrel enjoyed many outdoor activities including hiking, camping and, especially, bicycling. As early as 1970, he began commuting to work on his bicycle, a practice he maintained through his 50's. Along with Donna, he was an avid bird watcher and traveled all over the Northwest to view different species. He grew up loving the Saturday matinees and he was a constant reader. Birthday cards sent to his children and grandchildren would contain original poems that he composed for the occasion. He could recite his favorite verses with ease, including the Ruba'y'at of Omar Khayyam and the works of Robert Service and Don Blanding.

Darrel was active in the religious community wherever he lived, including the past 35 years at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salem. He participated in services as well as volunteering with a number of church-sponsored outreach programs. Darrel was also an active member of the Salem Area Garden Club for over 30 years, lending his support and serving on the board in various capacities, including a four-year stint as its President.

Darrel is survived by his wife Donna, his children, David (Sheila), Daniel (Mary), Diana Ewoldt (Mark), Dennis (Brenda) and Drea, and grandchildren, Molly, John, Earl, Steven, James, Katherine, Andrew and Mackenzie. He was greatly loved and is dearly missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on May 31, 2013 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salem, Oregon. Following will be a reception in the Parish hall and then an internment ceremony at City View Cemetery, in Salem, Oregon. The family has designated the following organizations for memorial contributions: the American Heart Association (www.heart.org), the Willamette Valley Hospice, http://wvh.org/), and the Salem Area Garden Club (checks payable to SAGC, SAGC/Cecil Barnes; 6393 Lardon Rd., NE, Salem, OR 97305.)