R. Doug Winn

Doug Winn, of Walla Walla passed away on January 30, 2012 at Providence St. Mary Hospital. A memorial service, Rev. Ernest Campbell presiding, will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:30 am at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home in Walla Walla. An interment service will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery on 2nd Avenue in Walla Walla. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the WW YMCA, the WW YWCA, or the Ft. Walla Walla Museum though the Herring Funeral Home.

Doug was born on 21 April 1922, in Oakesdale, Washington to Russell and Gladys Winn. Russell Winn joined the J. C. Penney Company after several years in the retail business and during his 33 year career managed stores throughout the Northwest including many years in Walla Walla in the 1940’s and 50’s.

After graduation from Toppenish High School in 1940, Doug moved to Walla Walla and enrolled in Whitman College later transferring to Washington State College the next year where he remained until WW II started. Shortly thereafter he joined the Marine Corps in what was to become a 26 year career, with the exception of Warrant Officer, he served in every rank from Private through Lieutenant Colonel.

During WWII Doug served as a Drill Instructor at San Diego, and was then transferred to the South Pacific. In 1944 he returned to the United States, married Leontine (Jo) Jaussaud, a local Walla Walla girl from a prominent pioneer family; graduated from Officers Candidate School in 1945 and was on his way back to the Pacific to take part in the invasion of Japan when the war ended.

After the war he was offered and accepted a regular commission in the Marine Corps and following a short period of inactive duty was recalled in the fall of 1946. During the conflict in Korea he was one of the primary Embarcation Officers planning the landing of the 1st Marine Division at Inchon and the subsequent evacuation of all Allied Forces from Hungnam in the winter of 1951.
For his service during this period he was awarded a Navy Letter of Commendation and a Bronze Star, both with Combat V's for duty under combat conditions.

During the next 16 years of Doug’s Marine Corps career he served in various capacities, primarily as an infantry officer, at several posts throughout the Pacific area as well as in the United States. Major assignments included: Commanding Officer of an Infantry Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California - Commanded the Marine Barracks at Adak, Alaska, and ended his career at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D. C.

When Doug retired from the Marine Corps in 1966 he was employed by IBM in Honolulu, Hawaii and Los Angeles, CA. He resigned his position with the company and returned to Walla Walla in 1971. Doug managed the Walla Walla City County Airport for the next 10 years. During this period he was an active member of the American Association of Airport Executives and was President of the Washington Airport Management Association. He was a member and past president of the local noon Rotary Club, a member and past Board Member of the Walla Walla Country Club, a life member of the Elks Lodge 287, and was a member of the initial Board that formed the Walla Walla Community College Foundation.

Upon retirement from the Airport in 1982 Doug and his wife traveled extensively for a few years until 1988 at which time his wife became the trustee of her families’ ranching and timber interests in south eastern Washington and north eastern Oregon.

He is survived by his wife, Leontine (Jo) Winn, son Robert (Bob) Winn and daughter-in-law Susan of Carmel Valley, CA, granddaughter Kristin Carter, husband John and 3 great grandchildren of San Jose, CA, and Granddaughter Dana Elliott, husband Jim and 2 great grandchildren of Los Gatos, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents Russell and Gladys Winn, brother, Bill and sister, Joanne.