Donald Eugene Leslie

1921 - 2017

Donald E. Leslie passed away December 31, 2017, at the age of 96.

He was born to James and Lucy Leslie on September 2, 1921, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was the youngest of 5 children … a photo of Don wearing aviator goggles at the age of 5 foretold of his future career. Both parents had passed away by 1932 and he moved in with sister Agnes.

He left British Columbia in December 1938 to join the British Royal Air Force as an airplane engine mechanic. He served with the RAF during WWII in England, Canada and Cairo, Egypt, and was trained as a flight engineer on four-engined heavy Halifax bombers.

He was shot down over France on a night bombing raid and was sheltered by the French underground, then captured by the German Gestapo.

He spent 2 months in Buchenwald concentration camp and 10 months in a prison-of-war camp. An interview with him was used in the 2-hour docudrama "Shot from the Sky", which appeared on the History channel and is still available on DVD. He was liberated in May 1945 and returned to Canada.

He married his wife Blossom in 1946 while flying for BOAC airline and they were married for 69 years. They moved to the USA in 1948 and both became US citizens.

Don flew for TWA airlines as a flight engineer for 31 years, based in Kansas City and flying international flights worldwide from New York. Don and Blossom moved to Sequim in 1979. He was an avid golfer who holds 4 club championships (2 at Sunland) and still holds the course record at Sunland, where he was a member for 38 years, when he was age 66.

His love of golf started at age 10 and he played until 2016. His first of 7 lifetime holes-in-one was in 1938 in Haney, British Columbia.

Don was an accomplished mechanic, woodworker, snow skier, golfer, baseball fan and world traveler.

Don is survived by his loving son Warren Leslie, daughter Sharon Ohm, son-in- law Rob Ohm and granddaughters Lindsay Holden and Kelly Schmidtbauer. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Blossom, his parents and siblings Dorothy, Gordon, Agnes and Margaret.

He is remembered for his comments on the golf course: "Isn't this a fun game?" "Aren't we lucky to be playing?" Don will be greatly missed by all who knew him. At his request, no service will be held.