William James Doonan (CMSGT - Retired Air Force)

On Friday, December 16, 2022, William James Doonan, a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather passed away at the age of eighty-eight. He was born March 1st, 1934 in Butte, Montana to Helen Zollman and William Benard Doonan. Bill graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington and enlisted in the United States Navy, January 1953. While in the Navy, he met Patricia Antoinette Bryant and they married on December 1st 1956 and were married for 66 years. Together they raised seven children.

After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1957 and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant on December 31, 1976 after a total of 24 years of military service. He served during the Korean war and served a year in Vietnam.

After retirement, he started a new career as a computer technician at the Abilene Reporter News and moved into IT management at the Yakima Herald Republic in Yakima Washington. After 10 years in Yakima, Washington, they moved to Port Townsend, Washington where he worked for Alaska Power and Telephone company as IT Management until his retirement in 1999.

Bill was active in his local Catholic Church, church choir and was in the Knights of Columbus.

His retirement hobbies included water volleyball, travel, mens coffee club and they spent winters in El Centro.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Donald Doonan, daughter Lorene Doonan and son-in-law Don Houlihan.

He is survived by his wife Patricia Doonan, sister Mary Elaine Swenson, son William Patrick Doonan (Lisa), daughters Colleen Doonan (David Boblitt), Maureen Doonan, Pauline Houlihan; sons Timothy Doonan (Cindy) and Sean Doonan (Christy); nineteen Grandchildren and eighteen Great grandchildren.

A mass will be held on Thursday, January 19th at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Yuma Arizona.  The final interment will be at the Tacoma Military Cemetery with full military honors in Kent,  Washington in the spring.