Donald L. Scoralle

Donald Lawrence Scoralle passed away November 23, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. He was born July 1, 1935 in Aberdeen, Washington to Joseph Scoralle and Aurelia Miner. Don attended elementary school in Aberdeen and graduated from Weatherwax H.S. where he was a member of the National Honor Society and very active in sports, politics and band (he played trumpet). Don attended Grays Harbor JC and the University of Puget Sound.

Don married Betty Jean Landoni of Walla Walla, Washington on August 30th, 1958. They were married 56 years. Don & Betty had eight children. Gina, Toni, Mike (died 1977), Donald Jr (m. Denise), Lisa, Marisa (m. Jeff Cribbs), David (m. Andrea), and Diana (m. Michael Bokaie). They have ten grandchildren: Tanya, Eric (d. 2011), & Matthew Scoralle. Kaylee, Dayton, & Griffin Cribbs. Sophia & Cyrus Bokaie, and Maya, & Laila Scoralle.

Don is survived by one sister Joanne Smith of Renton, Washington. He has numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and brothers & sisters in law that survive him.

He attended Chicago's Loyola University, School of Dentistry, and earned his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1962. Upon graduation, he served on active duty in The United States Navy Dental Corps. His first year, he was designated to receive a rotating dental internship at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. His service career has taken him aboard the U.S.S. Sperry (submarine tender) and one year in Vietnam with the Naval Air Facility in Cam Ranh Bay.

Beginning in August 1969, he embarked on a three-year period of graduate training. The first year was at the Naval Dental School in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1970, Don was selected by the Navy, and the Graduate School of his dental alma mater, Loyola University, to pursue a graduate program leading to a dual degree of Master of Science in Oral Biology and a Certificate of Specialty Training in Endodontics (root canal). His next duty was on the USS Coral Sea aircraft carrier where he spent 26 months, as head of the Dental Department. He became a Captain soon after and finished his Navy Career at Long Beach Naval Station, retiring in 1984. After retiring Don and his wife Betty opened a private Endodontics practice in the San Pablo/Pinole area where he retired for good in 1994.

Upon retirement, Don and Betty lived full time in their Motor Home for 10 years, traveling all over the USA including Alaska, as well as Canada, Mexico, Europe and New Zealand.

Don was a kind and friendly man with a fun sense of humor. He deeply loved his wife, children, grandchildren, neighbors, relatives, friends, high school, college and dental classmates, coworkers, Naval shipmates, and fellow RVers. He enjoyed camping, backpacking, and Snicker bars. Small pencils and paper were always handy for his avid note taking. He loved shopping (especially Costco), barbequing, Molinari Salami, Happy Hour, reading at least two newspapers a day, good food, playing the stock market and golf. Also, watching sports - especially the 49ers, Warriors, De la Salle Football... All in all, he lived a full and beautiful life, just the way he wanted to.

We are grateful for the years we were able to enjoy this wonderful Man, Husband, Father, Brother, and Friend. He served his Family, Friends, and Country well, and we rest knowing that he now serves in the Lord's Air Corps in Heaven.

"A Celebration of Life" Ceremony will be held from 1pm - 4pm to January 3, 2015 at the Summerset One Club House, 1675 Crispin Drive, Brentwood, CA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of the East Bay, 3470 Buskirk, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 or Retirement Fund for Religious, 3211 Fourth Street NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194, or your favorite charity.