Donald (Don) Glen Raugust

Donald (Don) Glen Raugust, 87, was born in Odessa, WA, to Fred and Mathilda Zundel Raugust on June 21, 1935. The family moved to Milton-Freewater, OR, when he was about two years old, where he attended school and graduated from Mac-Hi in 1953. He earned money by delivering papers for the Union-Bulletin and moved to Pendleton, OR, working as Circulation Manager for the Umatilla County. He served in the Army Reserve and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant on November 13, 1961, on a communications unit.

He will be missed terribly by his wife, Donna, his son, Mathew, and five stepchildren, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren whom he loved so much.

During his newspaper career, he worked for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin as a Circulation Manager; in Roseburg, OR, Napa, CA, Leavenworth, KS, and Lewiston, ID. After he left the newspaper business, he returned to Walla Walla and worked at the Washington State Penitentiary, from which he retired after 20 years in 2000.

He and Donna enjoyed traveling by car to the Oregon Coast yearly and seeing parts of the U.S., including Branson, Missouri, and Mount Rushmore. He really enjoyed their 17-day cruise through the Panama Canal, visiting Puerto Vallarta, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Cartagena, Columbia, S.A.

Don was a life member of the Walla Walla Elks, Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, and Napa Valley JC’s. He remembered very well the time visiting with coach Joe Paterno and Valerie Bertinelli when she was on TV. He was a loyal Seahawks fan and really enjoyed watching Professional Football.

Don is survived by his wife, Donna; son, Mathew (Catherine) Raugust; five stepchildren, Susan (Gene) Summers, Cathy (Mark) Zitzer, Tom (Sharon) Thompson, Fritz Michael (Michelle) Buehler, and Richard (Woody) Thompson; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

His family would like to send a special thanks to the Doctors, Nurses, and Therapy people at Providence St. Mary Medical Center and the nursing personnel who so kindly cared for Don, also the Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists who helped him so much. Also, Sandra, who helped in his home at night since August 2021 through Matty’s Home Care. Thanks to Dr. Eric Ball for his care through the years.

A service will be held for him in the Spring-Summer, to be determined later.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Parkinson Research Foundation, The American Heart Association, Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, or a charity of your choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA  99362.