Don Womble

1926 - 2010

Lodi, CA

Don Womble

Feb. 1, 1926 - Nov. 23, 2010

Don Womble, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, athlete, teacher, coach.

Beloved and loving, he left this earth on Tuesday, November 23, 2010. Born on February 1, 1926 in Stockton, CA, Earl Donald Womble was a fourth generation Californian. His parents were Earl Tennyson Womble and Hilda Charlotte Scheu Womble. He is survived by sisters Lynda Quigley and Betty Caine.

Don attended Stockton schools and graduated from Stockton High School in 1944, just in time to enlist in the United States Navy to serve in World War II in the South Pacific. The war ended and after two years of service he returned to Stockton to attend Stockton Junior College and College of Pacific where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1951. He immediately entered the teaching profession at Montezuma School where he taught sixth grade. The following year he went to teach seventh and eighth grades at Houston School in Acampo. While he was teaching there he organized the "Lil 'Leven League" so that the kids who went to school in the country could compete in sports such as Flag Football, Basketball, Softball and Track in the non-unified schools in the north end of the county. He taught the techniques of those sports so that the high school coaches would come to make sure his athletes were signed up for high school sports. After teaching at Houston for nineteen years in 1970 he moved in to Lodi High School where he taught Physical Education and coached football, wrestling, and track. Eventually he concentrated in Track and Cross Country continuing to coach after he retired from teaching in 1984, He remained coaching those sports until his death after cross country season ended this year. One of his proudest accomplishments was competing in the West Valley Marathon. Then Lodi High Track Coach Joe Neff coached him and his goal was to finish in under four hours, which he did. His running buddy Joanne Gavin ran the first few miles with him to pace him.

He married Loella (Lou) Taylor in 1949 and they had five children who gave them 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Their children are daughter Melissa (Robert) Diaz and grandchildren Nick, Nathan(Misty), Nina; son Jeffrey and grand children Joshua (Laura) with great grandchildren Michael, Makenna, and Dylan; grandchildren Audrey, Porter, Soaring, and Booker; daughter Nancy (Alex)Smith, grandchildren Adeline and Mason, daughter Rebecca (Ed) Womble Dahl, grandchildren Taylor

(Ashley), Morgan, and Gabriel, daughter Amanda (Pete) Womble Miesner, grandchildren Declan and Cora. He enjoyed a very close relationship with his many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Even with this large list of descendants, there were a number of others who were fondly embraced as integral family members and included in all family gatherings. They are daughter Margaret Hoyt and granddaughter April, Joe Pimentel, Angelina Gervasi, Nikole Aguirre and Ronda Hildebrand.

He was a talented athlete who was inducted into the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame for his participation as a first string member of the 1943 undefeated championship football team at Stockton High School. He was coached by Larry Siemering in high school and college, and by Amos Alonzo Stagg in college.. While in the Navy he played on a championship basketball team and also wrestled. After returning from the Navy he enrolled in Stockton Junior College (now Delta) and College of Pacific (now University of the Pacific). He was a valued football player on both of those teams.

He has enjoyed great success as a high school teacher and coach and was inducted into the Lodi Athletic Hall of Fame for the positive contributions he has made to the many athletes he has coached at Lodi High.

He has always been beloved by his students and athletes, many of whom have kept in touch with him for many years sometimes spanning three generations.

From 1975 to 1984, Don and his wife Lou were teacher-leaders for the People to People High School Ambassador program and escorted many high school students to Europe and Asia. The goal was to promote peace, understanding, and good will between nations and in the process leaders and students made life long friendships around the world.

He was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Stockton, and at the age of 21 joined The Masonic Lodge of F&AM, being a member of Stockton Lodge # 498 for many years, then Morning Star. Lodge # 68. He also was a member of California Teachers Association and various other professional organizations. His hobbies were photography, camping, cross country skiing, traveling, weaving, stamp collecting, and collecting all things he considered useful or valuable.

Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, December 19, 2 p.m. at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. Contributions can be made to the Don Womble Scholarship Fund which will be used to provide running shoes for underprivileged future runners. You may send these to The Don Womble Scholarship Fund at Bank of Stockton, Lodi or to the charity of your choice.