Donald R. Skinner

Donald Ross Skinner, 78, a longtime Wenatchee resident, passed away Saturday, September 9th, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Don was born December 6, 1938, in Bevier, MO to the late A.T. “Mike” and Ruth Skinner. The youngest of eight children, he moved with his family to Walla Walla, WA. After attending Laurelwood Adventist Academy, Don entered the US Army as a medic. Stationed at Fort Detrick, Maryland, he worked in medical research in the White Coat Project. He met the love of his life, Judith Reed, at Columbia Basin Community College and they married in Walla Walla. Don worked and finished his schooling at the University of Washington in Nuclear Medicine Technology. While they were living in Seattle, their daughter Chanin was born. After Don finished his degree, the family moved to Wenatchee to work for the Wenatchee Valley Clinic (now Confluence Health). Their son Shawn was born soon after. Don helped start the Nuclear Medicine Department and later the Ultra Sound Department, retiring after 30 years of service. His co-workers were like family, and he enjoyed meeting and befriending many patients there as well. While working at the clinic, Don started a construction company, Accent Homes. He built over 20 new homes in the area plus remodeled many others to keep as rentals. An avid bird hunter, he enjoyed training his yellow labs and hiking the hills. Don was also a pitcher for several championship teams in the fast pitch softball league and he was inducted into the NCW Softball Hall of Fame. He coached for many years with Wenatchee Youth Baseball. He cheered on the Mariners, Seahawks and his “beloved” Huskies. In addition to being a sports fan, Don was a born entrepreneur. He started King Salmon Outfitters, two guided fishing camps on the Nushagak River in Alaska. Many Wenatchee residents fished in his camps, thrilled to catch large King Salmon. He loved the water, was a member of the Lake Chelan Yacht Club, and even helped take a boat from Miami through the Panama Canal to Mexico. Don also enjoyed cooking. He won several pie baking contests and started a pizza restaurant in Rincon De Guayabitos, Mexico, where he and Judy wintered for many years. Don was a true renaissance man who could do it all! But he was best known for his loving heart. He had an ability to easily make friends everywhere with his warm smile, sense of humor and true concern. He made everyone feel special. Don will truly be missed and always remembered. Don is survived by his wife of 52 years, Judy, his daughter Chanin (Dave) of Wenatchee, son Shawn (Sonja) of Milwaukie, Oregon, five adoring grandchildren Thane, Taylor and Troy Street and Simone and Bryce Skinner, his sisters Elaine Derby, Lenore Wagner, Lee Peterson and Marilyn Stanford, and many nieces and nephews. The family thanks the Confluence Health doctors, nurses and staff who took wonderful care of Don the past two and a half years as he bravely battled cancer. Don’s life will be celebrated Saturday Sept. 23rd at 2:00 pm at the Wenatchee First United Methodist Church, 941 Washington Street, Wenatchee. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don’s name to “Cancer Care NCW- Our House”, 1708 Castlerock Ave, Wenatchee, for local cancer patient needs.

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Donald R. Skinner

December 6, 1938 - September 9, 2017