Dorwin Padget

Dorwin Padget

Former longtime Lake County resident Dorwin Padget passed away on Dec. 2, 2024, in Loveland, Colo., at the age of 89. In August he was diagnosed with a sepsis infection in one shoulder and he was never able to fully recover from the effects of that illness.

Dorwin was born to Frank and Mary Padget at their home a short distance west of Lakeview. When he was a senior at Lakeview High School he met his future wife, Michael Gillenwater, on the school bus and fell in love. They married in 1954 and started life together working on the Lynch Ranch in Plush.

In 1961-62 they built a home at the corner of Hwy. 140W and what is now designated as Padget Road. In that home they raised their three daughters: Deborah Leitz (David), Gwen Sanwick (Scott) and Robin Senger (Kyle). After his time working on ranches, Dorwin was the ticket agent/weather man/baggage handler for West Coast Airlines when it was flying into Lakeview in the early '60s. He later worked at one of the sawmills and then drove dump truck and snowplow for the county road department. He eventually had his own business as a building contractor and finally operated his own backhoe and dump truck.

In 2006 Dorwin and Michael moved to Wellington, Colo., to be closer to their daughters and their families. Michael passed away in 2016. With some help from his kids and grandkids, he was able to remain in his own home until August.

Dorwin is survived by his daughters and their husbands and his five grandchildren: Chip (Amanda), Ben, Skyler (Caleb), Jayden and Chesney. He is also survived by his siblings Roy, Karilyn Story and Dale. He was preceded in death by his brother Raymond and his sister Florence Mautz. A graveside service was held at the Wellington cemetery on Dec. 6, 2024.