Donald Leroy Whitson

Donald Leroy Whitson 6/25/32 - 12/24/2019. Our precious Dad/ Papa Don passed away peacefully early Christmas Eve morning after declining rapidly from a series of mini strokes and complications of progressive dementia. We feel peace knowing he is now in the presence of our most merciful God and reunited with his beloved Gloria, whom he was married to for 53 years, prior to her death in 2013. He was a committed and loving husband who adored and cared for Gloria for many years as she battled
Alzheimer's.

Don grew up in Dallas, Texas where he attended North Dallas High School (1950) and spent summers working on his grandfather's farm in Clyde, Texas. He shared many great stories with us about this simple, hard-working, but happy time with his grandfather. He served in the Marines during the Korean War (1950-1953) and then attended North Texas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing (1954-1958). He was an active member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity while he continued to work and support his parents all during his college years. He was working in sales in 1959 when he called on Petro-Fina Oil and flirted with a pretty blonde woman at the front desk there. He asked her out and their love story began. He and Gloria were married at Perkins Chapel on the SMU Campus Feb. 19, 1960.

His children were all born in Dallas, in 1961, 1962 and 1965. He began working for the 3M Company in 1959 while living in Dallas and was soon transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas for a few years as a branch manager. He was promoted again in 1971 and jumped at the chance to move to Denver, Colorado and become Rocky Mountain Regional Manager where he worked until his retirement in 1992.

He loved the Colorado lifestyle, enjoyed pheasant hunting in Holyoke, CO for many years, was a member of Trout Unlimited and was a master fly fisherman. He spent many a day fly fishing on the South Platte River and enjoyed the peace of a day on the river. However, he found his greatest joy in teaching his son and grandson how to fly fish and cherished their yearly trips to the Big Horn River in Montana. He also loved fishing in Yellowstone, Wyoming, and Utah as well.

After his retirement, Don and his wife Gloria traveled to Hawaii, Carmel and Monterey, Moab, Sedona, Montana, Yellowstone and enjoyed many cruises in the Caribbean and Panama, just to name a few. He and Gloria were members of Christ Episcopal Church where they raised their children in faith.

Most importantly, Don was proud of his family. He was a man of strong moral character and integrity who always made his family the priority. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren on ""Special Day with Nana/Papa,"" he babysat, attended school activities and sporting events, awards banquets, birthday parties, graduations, and was an impactful part of their upbringing. It brought him great joy to see his children and grandchildren happy and accomplishing their dreams. He was, and will always be, the role model for his children and grandchildren of how a man loves and honors his wife and his family.

Don was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Gloria Fay Hulsey Whitson (2013), his daughter Stacey Ellen Whitson (1961), and his parents Leroy and Jo Ada Moore Whitson. He is survived by his 2 children Amy Whitson Nugent, John Gregory (Greg) Whitson, daughter-in-law, Suzie Vanek Whitson, and 5 grandchildren: Shane Nugent, Abbey Nugent, Drake Nugent, Ethan Whitson and Reed Whitson, all of Colorado.

Our Father/ Papa was a simple man whose devotion to his family provided solid family roots, a sense of security and closeness, and was an inspiring example of how a good man leads his family with honor, firm faith, high standards and an overflowing abundance of love. We are well aware of the great blessing he was, and we are eternally grateful for him.

Private Family Services will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be mailed to: The Alzheimer’s Association, Colorado Chapter, Attn: Don and Gloria's Hope, 455 N. Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203 or please call 303-813-1669 and ask for Renee. Donations will support research and programs at the Colorado Chapter, http://act.alz.org/goto/DonandGloriasHope.