Donald Auradou

Donald "Don" Auradou was born in Healdsburg CA on May 30, 1936, to Ned Wesley Auradou and Faye Ingram Auradou Williams. He passed away quietly, surrounded by family in St. Helena CA on December 13, 2023 at the age of 87. He attended High School in Healdsburg, CA where he graduated and met the love of his life, high school sweetheart Darlene Joyce Griffin, his wife and best friend of 63 years.

He proudly served in the US Navy for over twenty years, including deployments during both Korean and Vietnam Wars, he served on the Kitty Hawk and the Constellation. He received many Awards including the Navy Commendation Medal. He retired as a Chief Aviation Electronics Technician and moved his family to Idaho where he learned to work in the commercial refrigeration industry which brought him back to CA where he eventually retired for good in Clearlake, CA. He was an avid gardener and loved to share the fruits of his labor with family and friends.

He enjoyed volunteering which included driving the van for the DAV to take Veterans to the hospital in San Francisco. He also was a very active member of the Shriners and the Masonic Lodge. He served as Lodge Secretary at the Clearlake Masonic Lodge #183 for many years before stepping down this past summer.

He is survived by his four sons: Ronald (Alma) Daniel, WY, Richard (Diane) of Clearlake, CA, Steve (Kelly) of Gig Harbor, WA, and Michael (Judy) of Healdsburg, CA and dozens of grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Darlene and daughter Terrie Pavlat. There will be a memorial in Healdsburg, CA in the spring of 2024.

Published in Healdsburg Tribune · January 2, 2024