Doris Walrath

1922 - 2015

Doris (Jacobsen, Brazeau) Walrath was born Aug. 24, 1922, in Tacoma, Washington. She was the youngest of the eight children of Petra Olson and John Jacobsen, both of whom emigrated from Norway. Doris passed away peacefully in her sleep at age 93 on Oct. 17, 2015, at the Fairbanks Pioneers Home, while in the company of her loved ones.
Doris joined the Navy at age 21 and was one of the first Waves during World War II. She trained as a pharmacist's mate and became a dental hygienist. She remembered being called a "pill pusher" and was a determined advocate for keeping our gums healthy so our teeth would remain strong.
Doris went through basic training in Corpus Christi, Texas, and trained in New York. She was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and in Key West, Florida. She would often lament that she did things backward. She said she should have lived in Alaska during her younger years and moved to Florida in her older years. Doris met Eugene "Bus" Brazeau when she was a rodeo princess and he was the back of a Democratic donkey costume in the Tacoma parade. Doris married Bus in Tacoma on Dec. 26, 1946, and they had three children: Yvette, Michele and Marc. Doris and Bus left Tacoma for Anchorage in 1951 and then moved to Fairbanks. Doris and Bus were married for 25 wonderful years, until Bus's death on May 26, 1972.
Several years later, Doris married Harlon "Wally" Walrath on June 4, 1975, and they were happily married until Wally's death on Oct. 1, 2008. Doris' first job was at Krueger's Drive Inn in Tacoma, where the interview consisted of making sure she had nice legs to go with the uniform. Doris next joined the Navy, then stayed home raising her children for many years. Doris went to work at the Post Office for eight years, and then worked for Alascom as a telephone operator. Out of more than 300 operators, Doris was chosen to be in Alascom's TV and print commercials representing their commitment to the community, possibly because of her beautiful smile. Doris never lost her radiant smile or her sense of humor.
Doris was preceded in death by her mother and father, Petra and John Jacobsen, and by all of her siblings: Orville, Ruth, Ray, Orville, Ethel, Arnold and Ralph.
Doris loved to dance and play bridge. She was on a dart league with her husband, Wally, and she loved to go to Las Vegas and play poker slot machines. Doris was very independent and lived in her own home until she was 90 years old. At that point, she was so lucky to be able to move into the Fairbanks Pioneers' Home. We can't say enough about the great people who work at the Fairbanks Pioneers Home and the comfort and care they gave mom during the last three years of her life.
Doris is survived by her three children, Yvette (Dan) Thompson, Michele (Mike) Persinger and Marc (Connie) Brazeau; and step-children Ryan (Carol) Walrath, Cheryl (Dave) Brewster, Amy Webster and Melody (Eric) Macchione. She is also survived by her grandchildren, George Thompson, Michele (Diego) Kelly, Tawnee (Conner) Means, Joshua (Jessica) Thompson, Megan Thompson and fiance Rick Bornemeier, Greg (Catharine) Persinger, Clint (Heather) Persinger, Chad Persinger and fiance Teresa Kemp, Glenn PerSinger, James Brazeau, Kelly Brazeau (who is following in her grandmother's footsteps and has been in the Navy for seven years), Shiina (Pat) Limoges, Heather Walrath, Mike (Namfon) Walrath, Savannah and Jacob Webster, Peter Macchione, Karen Daley, Bill (Lisa) Allen, Robin Allen, and numerous great grandchildren. She is also survived by her niece, Diane Boyle, and her brother in law, Harold Bittner, and her nieces, Cindy Aguilera, and her family, Sandy Bittner and her family, and nephew Ross (Ruth) Bittner and his family.
The family would like to thank the Fairbanks Pioneers Home and their wonderful staff for their kind, gentle and patient care of Doris. A celebration of life will be held for Doris Walrath from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Fairbanks Pioneers Home in the library. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Fairbanks Pioneers' Home in the name of Doris Walrath.