Don Cleveland Williams

1941 - 2020

BORN

1941

DIED

2020

About

Western Washington University

Don Williams Obituary

DON CLEVELAND WILLIAMS
April 10, 1941 ˜ August 6, 2020

Don Cleveland Williams, age 79, succumbed to Parkinson’s Disease on Aug. 6 at his home in East Vancouver. He was born in LaVerne, CA to Daphne Ione Irvin and Don Fred Williams. The family moved to Paradise, CA and then to Chico, CA where Don attended school. He graduated from California State University at Chico in 1964. He continued at the University of California, Davis, receiving a PhD in Biochemistry in 1968. He was hired as a professor at Western Washington University where he taught from 1968-2007.

Don married Marva Van Dyne in 1964. They were married for 56 years. They moved to the Vancouver area in 2008 to be near their grandchildren.

In addition to teaching, Don loved having land to farm, garden, grow fruit trees, raise a few cattle, have hens for fresh eggs. In 1978 Don built a large solar home (active and passive) east of Bellingham, WA using wood he logged from the land to make cedar exterior siding, cedar shakes for the roof, old growth Doug fir for the massive interior beams and all the structural lumber, plus maple for the butcherblock kitchen counters. In the 1990’s he cleared land on a farm in Everson, WA and started the McCauley Creek Vineyard, bringing a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Gris to market in 1995.

Don was a bright, kind person who lived life vigorously. For 28 years, he enjoyed playing handball daily and participating in regional tournaments. He loved backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas, Trinity Alps, and the Cascades. He loved traveling in Europe, especially by rail, and walking all day in the small towns of Tuscany. Of all his projects there was one that meant everything to him and that was his family. He treasured his children and delighted in their growth and enjoyment of life. He loved watching as they became wonderful, sensitive adults with great families of their own. Don leaves behind his wife, Marva; his daughter, Brianne (Bill Hutfilz); his son, Jared (Qin Qin) and his cherished grandchildren, Daphne, Elliot, and Zoe.

There will be a scattering of Don’s ashes at a later time.
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Published by The Columbian on Aug. 16, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Don Williams

5 Entries

Shelley Allan-Cole

August 18, 2021

Dr. Williams was one of my favorite teachers at Western Washington in Bellingham from the mid 1970's. I am so grateful to have been able to study biology from Don at WWU. I especially enjoyed studying Cell Physiology and Enzymology from Don and often find myself calling on these teachings still as I try to read studies related to the pandemic. I also remember times in the back room of his lab, sampling wines he shared from beakers. I remember waiting in long lines at Mexican Village and seeing Don and his family right there in line, patiently waiting like everyone else for some of the best Mexican food around. I wish I could thank Dr. Williams for the huge impression he made on this Biology student and let him know that his lessons come to mind often - from understanding what is happening at the cell membrane to the plight of Pisaster ochraceus in these times of climate change, to how to enjoy a good wine; Don, you made a difference! You also played a role in me passing my love of science on to my own kids!

Bob Carter

December 27, 2020

Don was my mentor and friend. I met him taking a class at WWU and worked under him in the late 1970s on my Master's thesis. He was a good man with a good heart. We will all miss him dearly.

Janice George

August 30, 2020

We were in the same PD exercise class/group. Don always had a cheerful smile. Everybody in the class especially enjoyed the times Don brought in fresh produce from his garden - delicious and very thoughtful. He will be missed.

Susan Robbins

August 20, 2020

Don married my most cherished friend from my childhood, high school, and college days. We always kept in touch over these many years. I was able to visit their Bellingham home/barn/vineyard for their daughters wedding, their home on the hillside where I saw Dons love of gardening manifested in a charming hillside view of the bay. On one of their trips to Southern California Don and Marva also visited me in Seal Beach where Marva and I began our college career at Long Beach State. Being a teacher myself, I was always impressed with his love of teaching, and his many accomplishments at Washington State. Don was a lovely host whenever I saw him, and a lively conversationalist! I was always thrilled to see their beautiful companionship, and their love of traveling and for each other. I am grateful for their many years together!

Lance Smith

August 16, 2020

Uncle Don married my Mom’s sister Aunt Marva the same year I was born, and although our families never lived near one another, we often spent time together at family events in California, Oregon, and Washington ever since I can remember. He was one of the most engaging and charismatic people I’ve ever known, always bringing humor, respect, and charm to our gatherings. Uncle Don brought joy to life in general, and he certainly brought a lot of joy to me personally, as well as to everyone else in our family too.

I didn’t realize until I was an adult how different Uncle Don was from the rest of the family when we were growing up, being a PhD in biochemistry and a professor, whereas most of the family was blue collar, resulting in contrasting social, religious, and political views. It’s a credit to Uncle Don that I didn’t even realize that these differences existed until I was well into adulthood, the reason being that they simply didn’t matter to him. He was gifted at connecting with people regardless of different backgrounds.

A regular family event for many years was birthday parties for Grandma Van Dyne, Mom’s and Aunt Marva’s mother. Quite a lot of planning went into the parties, especially by Mom, Aunt Marva, and their sister, Aunt Anne. Uncle Don always showed up with great enthusiasm, making us all laugh and making Grandma feel special. One of the parties featured a play in 1982 directed by Aunt Anne called Putnam County Review about the farm Grandma grew up on, starring various family members (photo).

One of my fondest memories of Uncle Don is when he came to pick up Dad and I in Canada after we finished the Pacific Crest Trail in 2003. Of course, we were exhausted, sore, and hungry. He treated us like kings, taking us home to Bellingham where he and Aunt Marva put us up for a few days, shared their amazing steam bath which we sat in for hours, made wonderful meals for us, and got us caught up on the family happenings.

Uncle Don was an extraordinarily wonderful uncle, father, husband, grandfather, teacher, and a whole lot more. He will be truly missed by so many. I love you Uncle Don, Lance

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