Donald Alwin Cummings

Donald Alwin Cummings of Hurricane, Utah passed away peacefully on Friday, June 27th, 2014 at 10:45 pm, after struggling for 9 years with Alzheimer’s disease, at the age of 88 years. Donald was born December 10th, 1925 in Los Angeles, California to Dr. Alwin T. Cummings and Frances K. Manning. He was the 3rd of 4 children-Alan, Edward, Donald & Marilyn. He attended St. Cecilia’s Catholic Elementary School, and served as an altar boy for St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church for many years under the guidance of Father Brady. He attended Loyola High School, Stanford University, and graduated from U.S.C. with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1948. The Army sent him through a specialized training program at Stanford University for a 12 month course in Civil Engineering. Donald served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946. He was a Technician 5th Grade HQ Company 1st Army. He was stationed at Camp Roberts, California, Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort McClellan, Alabama, and Camp Beale, California. He was honored in the military with WW II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and his high rating as a sharp-shooter. He met Naomi Dolores Jackson in 1946 at the Newman Club at U.S.C. Their first date was a Newman Club dance on December 13th, 1946. They married on July 1st 1950 at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Los Angeles, California by his favorite priest, Father Brady. They had 3 children-Victoria, David, and Patricia. Donald’s career was in Electrical Engineering and he worked for Water & Power in Los Angeles, C.F. Braun, Alhambra, Fluor Corp, and Ralph M. Parsons LTD, Pasadena, California. During his years at Ralph M. Parsons he worked in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. In addition, he was a small business entrepreneur and owned a Laundromat and donut shops. He returned to work at Ralph M. Parsons for 20+ years and retired in 1992. Upon his retirement they relocated to Sky Ranch in Hurricane, Utah to continue his passion for flying his Piper Cherokee. His greatest passion was flying. He earned his pilot’s license in 1960, while living in Great Falls, Montana. He continued flying until he was 80 years of age. All of the family vacations were piloted by Donald in his favorite airplanes. In addition, he loved skiing, camping, golf, travelling, building and flying model airplanes, and outdoor projects around the house (brick-work and patio building). He and his wife Naomi travelled and saw most of the world. His favorite sports were football and baseball. His was an avid U.S.C. Trojan football fan. Donald is survived by his wife Naomi Dolores (Jackson) Cummings, 3 children-Victoria Katherine (Cummings) and James Gregory Tate, Ramona, California, David Brian Cummings and Kathy (Wood) Cummings, Wheatridge, Colorado, Patricia Aukele Cummings-Aguirre, Hurricane, Utah. In addition, 11 grandchildren-Daniel and Marguerite Tate, Diana and Francis Lewis, Christina and Rowan Ellis, Wendy Cummings, Laura and Vladimir Kogan, Erin Cummings, Gregory Tate, Alexander Aguirre, Jessica Aguirre, Andrew Tate, and Monica Tate and 5 great-grandchildren-Juniper Cummings, Aurora Lewis, Reagan Ellis, Max Tate and Mae Tate. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Alwin Truman Cummings, his mother Frances Katherine (Manning) Cummings, his siblings-Edward Clarence Cummings, Alan Francis Cummings, Marilyn Marie Cummings, Margaret Joann Cummings Peter Francis Cummings, Barbara Lee Cummings, Of his immediate family, he lived the longest, 88 years of age. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 3rd at 5pm at St. Paul’s Catholic Center, 171 South Main Street, Hurricane, Utah. Interment will take place, at a later date, to be determined, at the Hurricane City Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to share condolences on-line at www.SerenityStG.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Serenity Funeral Home, St. George, Utah, 435-986-2085.

Donald Alwin Cummings

December 10, 1925 - June 27, 2014