Donald R. Pearson
October 1, 1926 – April 3, 2016
Donald Rudolph Pearson, son of John Rudolph and Signe (Turnquist) Pearson, recently a resident of Colorado Springs and Woodland Park, Colorado and formerly of Brecksville and Ashtabula, Ohio, died at age 89 from complications of cerebral atherosclerosis. Don was preceded in death by his loving wife, Norma also in Colorado Springs in July 2014 and by his brother, Robert and sister, Evelyn Field, both of Ashtabula. He was the last surviving member of his generation of the extended Pearson family in Ashtabula.
Don will be always remembered as “Bopa” by his adult children and grandchildren: Dennis and Tracey Pearson and their children, Gregory and Catherine, of Jericho, Vermont; Keith and Joan Pearson and their son, Henry of Kent, Ohio; Lisa (Pearson) and Jeff Kasyon and their children, Emily and Mitchell of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and as “Uncle Don” by many loving nieces and nephews as well as grand-nephews and grand-nieces. The “bear in the woods,” “fuzzybugger,” and “Let ‘er rip!” (used by Don well before any cable TV actor) will live on forever in family lore.
Don enlisted in the Navy at age 17, right out of Ashtabula High School and served in the Pacific during WWII, primarily as a “swabbie” on an LST. After discharge and using the GI bill, he got his BS degree in accounting at The Ohio State University. He married Norma June Luce in 1950 and they returned to Ashtabula where Don joined the Reliance Electric Company. Don rose through the managerial ranks at Reliance as the family grew; with children born in 1952, 1957 and 1962. Don then commuted to Cleveland to obtain his MBA from Case Western Reserve University and eventually became the General Manager of the Reliance plant. He left Reliance in 1970 to become a Vice President of Kirkwood Industries in Cleveland and the family moved to Brecksville in 1972. Don later became Executive Vice President of Marlin Manufacturing on West 150th Street in Cleveland, where he remained until retirement at age 70 in 1996.
Don and Norma relocated to Woodland Park, Colorado in 2002, when they finally built their “dream house” with a view of Pikes Peak. During their time in Woodland Park they hosted many extended family events and other visitors, including long-time friends Anne and Joe Gillette from Ashtabula, and “cousin” Oke from Sweden. All who knew Don and Norma will have fond memories of many happy times in Woodland Park, Brecksville and Ashtabula.
Memorial services for Don will be held at a later date.