Donald L. Truax
January 29, 1919 — November 6, 2011
Don, a resident of Orinda and Moraga, Calif., since 1951, died peacefully at home after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Don’s long life of dedication and service originated from his devotion to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was blessed to have several different careers — Retired from Del Monte Corporation as Director of Food Safety and Industrial Relations after 20 years; Owner of Don’s Decorating Centers in Moraga and Orinda for 30 years; and after two retirements, enjoyed several years as an employee of Kaiser Permanente as an advocate for the Senior Advantage Program.
A dedicated public servant — Board of Directors, National Decorating Products Association; Founding Member of the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, served as its second President; Chamber’s Business Person of the Year in 1988; Charter Member and President of the Moraga Rotary Club; Paul Harris Fellow and Benevolent Member of the Rotary International Foundation; Honorary Member of the Lamorinda Rotary Sunrise Club, where he was a Founding Member, and also where the Don Truax Award was established to recognize the Outstanding Rotarian of the Year; Founding Member of the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church; and more recently, a Member of the Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church.
ADVERTISEMENT
Don graduated high school in Rochester. He had a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bacteriology from University of Minnesota. He was a retired Lt. Commander of the U.S. Navy, where he served in the South Pacific, World War II, The Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the 12th Naval District.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Mabel, of 67 years; two married sons, Dennis and Susan Truax of Martinez, Calif., and Robert and Brenda Truax of Concord, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services to be held at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga, on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at 2 p.m.
Gifts can be made to the Moraga History Center, the Moraga Rotary Club, or Kaiser Hospice.
