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Obituary for Donald Allen Peckham
Peckham, Donald Allen, age 86 of the Wind Crest Community of Highlands Ranch.
Donald Allen Peckham was born April 16, 1932 in the California Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. He was the firstborn child to Stan and Vera Peckham followed five years later by brother, Ray, and then ten years later by sister, Sharon. He graduated from El Monte High School and Mt. San Antonio Jr. College. Don met Sharon Schaap through their church and Methodist Youth Fellowship group while in high school. After high school Don joined the Navy at 18 and served for four years during the Korean War. He was stationed in Hawaii and served on the aircraft carriers USS Wasp and USS Hancock. Don and Sharon rekindled their courtship after he was discharged from the Navy and they were married soon thereafter in 1955. After the Navy he had an offer to work for Pan Am Airlines in Hawaii which was of great interest to him, but his dad was in the early stages of building a solvent recycling company and his parents asked if he would come join in helping to develop it. Always a dutiful son, he did, and the Oil & Solvent Process Company (OSCO) continued to grow. Don’s whole family was involved with OSCO and though it was hard work it was also a labor of love. In addition to OSCO being a family business OSCO also employed numerous friends over the years. Don held several positions at OSCO as well as being the President for 13 years. Don was proud of the accomplishments of OSCO as a leader in the solvent recycling industry and spent much of his life working towards its success. He retired when the company sold after 51 years in business.
Don and Sharon lived most of their lives in Southern California where they have a multitude of family and lifetime friends - some that go back to as early as their days in grammar and high school. They lived in the same home on Doublegrove Street in Valinda, CA for 19 years where their children Janice, Mark, and Jack all grew up. They were active in their children’s schools, church, and the community. From there they moved to Hacienda Heights, CA for 13 years then on to Upland, CA to be closer to family for the next 20 years. In retirement they traveled the country in their motorhome enjoying journeys with their motorhome group, family members, and friends. They moved to Wind Crest Retirement Community in Highlands Ranch in 2007 to be near to Colorado family and have been blessed to have created a whole new group of later life friends.
Don loved trains, planes, boats, fishing, water skiing, golf, keeping fit and being active. He had 8 boats over the course of his life, the first of which he built himself from a kit in his garage. His grandparents took him on vacations to Bass Lake, CA which turned out to be a tradition that he passed down to his children and was a place he dearly loved. Yet another tradition was fishing at Willow Beach, AZ where almost every family member eventually had their picture framed and placed on the wall of fame in the restaurant for catching a prized trout of five pounds or over. Don’s prized trout was 13 pounds. He had LA Dodgers tickets from their opening day until he moved to Colorado – for a total of 50 years! He enjoyed many trips with his family and friends house boating on Lake Powell where so many wonderful memories where made. All these trips and travels gave him many opportunities to enjoy yet another of his passions, that of photography, a love which he inherited from his father. He was a gregariously outgoing man who never met a stranger, welcomed his children’s friends into his family fold, loved to talk to people and tell stories, as well as hear their own.
Don was a loving and devoted husband married to Sharon Mae Schaap Peckham for 63 years. She was the love of his life. He was a loving and dedicated father to his children and active in all aspects of their lives. When his grandsons came along, he was eager to share his hobbies with them. An avid supporter of all their activities (ski racing, hockey, soccer) he was their #1 fan. He was engaged in the lives of his children and grandsons in ways that enriched them and will forever live on through them. Never has a man loved his family more or been more loved by them.
Don loved the Wind Crest Community. Don & Sharon were Wind Crest Pioneers moving into Cottonwood the first month it opened. He could often be seen in the fitness room, playing water volleyball, setting up and playing Wii bowling and putt-putt golf on Saturday mornings. In warmer months, he could be found golfing with the Wind Crest group. He also enjoyed meeting new prospective Wind Crest residents as an Ambassador, working for the Treasure Chest, was on the Welcoming Committee, a member of the Windy Wooders, and 49th member of the Korean War Veterans.
In July of 2018 Don found out that he had Renal Cell Carcinoma. During this time, he spent many days in the hospital from complications of the cancer in addition to undergoing immunology therapy treatments. The ideal patient, he was always smiling and cheerful, thanking the doctors and nurses and appreciative of his care and treatment.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Peckham, Highlands Ranch, CO; children Janice (Ken) Ballard, Highlands Ranch, CO; Mark (Betty) Peckham, San Dimas, CA; Jack (Gretchen) Peckham of Anza, CA; 5 grandsons; Ryan Ballard, Denver, CO; Mark (Melissa Meeka) Peckham, Upland, CA; Steve (Kendra) Ballard, Centennial, CO; Scott (Bethany) Ballard, Oregon City, OR; Daniel (Tawny) Peckham, Wrightwood, CA, and sister Sharon (George) Weir, Upland, CA. He loved them all selflessly and always put his family first. His grandsons were the joy of his life and he cherished each one. Don is preceded in death by his mother Vera, father Stan, and brother Ray.
Don’s faith and love for God, and his moral code and ethics, were the backbone of his life. He lived joyfully, with a servant’s heart, always sharing a smile and his boundless love with others.
In lieu of flowers please consider sending contributions to the Wind Crest Resident Care Fund or your preferred cancer research fund.
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Previous Events
Funeral Service
Sunday
9
Dec
2:30 PM12/9/2018 2:30:00 PM
Wind Crest Community
3235 Mill Vista Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Celebration of Life will be held in the Arts and Entertainment Center. A Celebration of Life service will also be held in California next year with a date and time to be announced.
