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Darwin Donati, 80, of San Luis Obispo, passed from this earth due to cancer Monday, June 11, 2012, under the caring guidance of Hospice, surrounded by his loving family. Darwin was born to Peter and Inez Donati at Villa Creek, near Cayucos in 1931. In 1953, Darwin married Ione Ellis, his high school sweetheart. Shortly after, he was called to serve his country in Korea. Following his service, he returned to San Luis and became one of the first workers employed by United Parcel Service in San Luis Obispo County. He had been a loyal UPS driver for over 30 years at the time he retired. In retirement, he enjoyed woodworking and creating beautiful kitchen cabinets with crown molding, gardening, cooking and weekend barbecues for his family. His other enjoyments in life were the yearly fishing trips with friends and morning meetings for coffee with his buddies. Most of all he enjoyed his family, the center of his life - he was our rock. Darwin put up a courageous fight and did everything required of him to guarantee a healthy outcome, which was not to be. His family is proud of him and awed by his determination. Darwin will be greatly missed by his wife of 59 years, Ione; daughter, Terri Caldwell; daughter Dianne Dotson (Greg); sons Dan and Mike Donati; and grandchildren Ryan and Chenin Dotson. Darwin never liked goodbyes; therefore, at his request, a private family service was held. In lieu of flowers, donations in Darwin''s memory, may be made to his favorite charities: Jack''s Helping Hand, Hospice, Woods Animal Shelter, or a charity of your choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by The Family of Darwin Donati.
Loving memories of Valentines Days gone by - February 14th, 2015.
I love you and miss you so much.
-- Ione
February 14, 2015
December 25th, 2014. It's Christmas, and another year without you. I love you and still miss you so much.
Ione
December 25, 2014
In loving honor of Darwin on his Birthday --
Ione
September 27, 2014
Honoring you on your Birthday, September 27th, and remembering everything you did for our family. We all miss you so much. Your untimely passing has left a large hole in our hearts.
I'll always love you -- Ione
Ione Donati
September 27, 2014
Valentine's Day, February 14th,2014.
I love you and miss you so much.
Ione
Ione Donati
February 14, 2014
Ione
January 25, 2014
Lighting a candle on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2013, in your memory and thinking of past Christmas Eves we spent together.
I love you, Ione
December 24, 2013
Thinking of you as always. I miss you so much.
Love, Ione
November 27, 2013
September 27th 2013 - Cherished memories of Darwin and past barbeques on the anniversary of your birthday. We all miss you so much.
Love, Ione and Family.
You are always in our hearts.
September 27, 2013
Missing you more than you will ever know. Love you.
July 26, 2013
Thinking of you today on Father's Day as I do every day. So many memories of good times, and so incredibly missed. Be in peace.
With love,
Terri
June 16, 2013
In loving memory ...
There are no words to express how much we miss you.
Your Family
June 14, 2013
May 29, 2013
May 27, 2013
May 25, 2013
In loving memory of Darwin on this Memorial Day weekend. We honor him as a husband, father, and grandfather. He will always live on in our hearts.
We love him and miss him.
May 25th, 2013
May 25, 2013
May 17, 2013
April 1, 2013
Easter Blessings.
March 31st,2013
March 31, 2013
At Easter time, as always, we remember how blessed we were to have you in our lives. We miss your love and guidance.
- Your Family
Easter, March 31st, 2013
March 30, 2013
March 26, 2013
March 19, 2013
Darwin, on our anniversary today, March 16th, 2013, I honor you for all the years we spent together since the day we took our wedding vows.
Even though you are gone from this earth, my love lives on.
March 16th, 2013.
March 16, 2013
In honor and loving memory of Darwin, on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2013. He was the heart of our family and we miss him very much. -- From his loving family.
February 14, 2013
February 13, 2013
February 6, 2013
February 6, 2013
In loving memory of Darwin Donati on this New Years Eve, December 24th, 2012.
You are forever in our hearts.
December 31, 2012
December 27, 2012
In loving memory of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather at Christmas, December 25th, 2012. We love him and miss him.
December 24, 2012
On this Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, a sad but grateful family gives thanks for the love and guidance Darwin has given us through the years. We miss him so much.
From his loving family.
Ione Donati
November 22, 2012
In loving memory of Darwin Donati, Husband,Father,Grandfather,and Veteran on this day, Veterans Day, November 11, 2012.
From your loving Family.
November 11, 2012
Thinking of you a lot these days on the eve of my last day on 'our' route...you showed me how to get it done...forever grateful...Carolee
October 30, 2012
In loving honor of your birthday.
I will always love you.
Ione
September 27, 2012
Miss you, too!
August 30, 2012
Me, too!
August 30, 2012
Missing u alot Daddy D
August 30, 2012
Miss You.
August 11, 2012
Goodbye Dad...
July 26, 2012
In Loving Memory of a wonderful and caring Husband, Father and Grandfather.
We miss the everyday things he did that kept this fmily going.
He will always live on in our hearts.
-- His loving Family.
July 24, 2012
Dagwood,so many great memories at UPS...teasing you to hear that great laugh,dressing up as you on one Halloween...you were my mentor and doing "our" route all these years since you retired I think about you often. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Carolee McDonnell
June 29, 2012
My sincere condolences to the Donati family for their loss.
Matt Giuffrida
June 28, 2012
The Bassi girls have such great memories of family camping and skiing with the Donati bunch! Darwin was one of my dad's dearest friends and we thought the world of him. We share in your loss and hope he is enjoying a cold beer and a great laugh with Jim.
Love to all of you,
Mike, Jill(Bassi), Alex and Cole Gentilly
June 27, 2012
Darwin,was a good friend-I have alot of great memories from over sixty years .He will be missed by all who knew him. My love to his wife Ione,& family. Irv &Carole Silveira Kingman,AZ.
June 27, 2012
dear Snicks & fam. Our friendship and prayers go out to you. Your love was strong and I remember when it blossomed. Darwin was a good friend to my family and will always remember him for that. God Bless you!
Don & Pat (Pence) Mueller
June 27, 2012
Dear Donati Family: You have my deepest sympathies on Darwin's passing. So many childhood memories with your family. Living up Hope Street from you was so fun. May the loving memories of your husband, dad & grandpa carry you through this difficult time.
Debbie Silveira-Wegemer
June 27, 2012
Oh Dagwood~you will be missed by so many. Working with you at UPS was such a joy~I will never forget that wonderful laugh of yours. You, Kenny and Ray will be together again. Condolences to the Donati family.
Connie Baird
June 27, 2012
Truly a man of character, and a good example of husband and father. I have many fond memories of Mr. Donati from Cub Scouts to hot rods. My heartfelt sympathy and condolences. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Jeff Thompson
June 27, 2012
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