Douglas Dodds
June 26, 1926 – Jan. 23, 2022
Resident of Castro Valley
Douglas David Dodds, recently of Castro Valley, formerly of Antioch, Alamo, and Belmont, CA, passed away on January 23, 2022 of natural causes at age 95. Eldest son of Welsh immigrant Thomas Lawson Dodds and Wisconsin native Kriste Olivia Smith, he was born in 1926 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He grew up mostly in the Utah and Nevada deserts, the family living the nomadic railroad life of his father, who was a signal gang foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad. He attended high school in Rawlins, WY where he worked in a bakery and rode fence on a sheep ranch. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1944 hoping to be a pilot, but the AAC had plenty of candidates, so he trained as a B-29 gunner in Amarillo, TX. The war ended just before his deployment, but not before he met his first wife-to-be, Barbara (Bobbie), a registered nurse in Amarillo. He was honorably discharged in 1946, enrolled at University of Nevada – Reno and graduated in 1950 with his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He and Bobbie were married in 1949 and he worked briefly on the UPRR with his father before taking a job as electrical engineer with Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He worked on many projects world-wide for Westinghouse, eventually achieving the title of Fellow District Engineer until his retirement in 1989, having served more than 38 years. In 1959, Doug and Bobbie had their first and only child, Douglas Jr. In 1971, Bobbie passed away and Doug married Carmen Kollmann, widow of Glenn Kollmann, a Navy Commander, naval air and test pilot who was lost during the Vietnam war; Glenn and Carmen had four children: Joe, Jackie, Mary and Jim.
Doug loved Alfa Romeo sports cars and was very active in the local Alfa Romeo Owners Club during the 60’s and 70’s, serving as Chapter President on occasion. His stepson Joe also developed a penchant for Alfas starting as a teen, owning several over the years and being active in local Alfa Club and SCCA events. Joe also had a keen interest in flying, inspired by his father, and developed into an outstanding pilot. Leaving cars for planes, Doug followed his yet unfulfilled desire to fly and earned his private pilot’s license and IFR rating. He owned and flew two successive Navion aircraft for the better part of two decades and truly loved the wide-open freedom of the skies and spending hours in shop talk with Joe (they would revert to Alfisti talk occasionally).
Growing up in the great open spaces left its mark on Doug as he loved all things western, was an avid outdoorsman and loved camping, fishing and hunting, much of which he did with his brother Bob. As Douglas left toddlerhood, it was time to get the lad hooked on camping and fishing…mission accomplished Pop. In Doug’s 70’s and 80’s, he and Douglas would find their way up to Bob’s house on the McKenzie River in Oregon, where, in retirement, Bob had become quite the drift boat captain, wood worker, and fly-tying guru. There, in that incomparable grandeur, unforgettable memories of days fishing on the river, cleaning fish, enjoying gin and tonics with home-smoked salmon jalapeno bagels, nights playing Mexican Train, hours of quiet solitude, waking to the sound of salmon belly-flopping in the river off the back deck, were seared into us.
Carmen passed away in July of 2015, and although Doug outlived her by 6+ years, the wind had clearly been taken out of his sails. He moved to an assisted living facility in Antioch in 2018, beat the first round of Covid in late 2020 and finally moved to a Castro Valley board and care home in 2021. All who were in contact with him would testify that his primary trait was gratitude – being so very thankful for the smallest thing that was done for him or the briefest visit. His last words to Douglas were that he was praying for him and others, and that he did a lot of praying these days. For someone who had never acknowledged God, this confession, this answered prayer, brought comfort and rejoicing to those who had been praying for him for years. We rest in the assurance that we will see you again in the Lord. Be at peace, Pop.
He is preceded by his first wife Barbara Lee Dodds (1971), second wife Carmen Mary Kollmann (2015), brother Robert Thomas Dodds (2020), and sister Betsy Kristine Dodds (2020). He is survived by his son Douglas David (Linda) Dodds Jr., stepson John Joseph (Donna) Kollmann, stepdaughter Jacqueline Joan Tinghitella, stepdaughter Mary Louise Lavigne, stepson James Jerald Kollmann, three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, eight step-grandchildren, and nine step-great-grandchildren.
A private family graveside memorial service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park, where Doug will be laid to rest alongside Bobbie. In lieu of flowers or other donations, consider donating to the board and care home that took such great care of Doug and to whom he was so grateful. Donations may be addressed to: Eden Assisted Living, 18821 Carlton Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546 (gifts are not tax deductible).
June 26, 1926 – Jan. 23, 2022
Resident of Castro Valley
Douglas David Dodds, recently of Castro Valley, formerly of Antioch, Alamo, and Belmont, CA, passed away on January 23, 2022 of natural causes at age 95. Eldest son of Welsh immigrant Thomas Lawson Dodds and Wisconsin native Kriste Olivia Smith, he was born in 1926 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He grew up mostly in the Utah and Nevada deserts, the family living the nomadic railroad life of his father, who was a signal gang foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad. He attended high school in Rawlins, WY where he worked in a bakery and rode fence on a sheep ranch. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1944 hoping to be a pilot, but the AAC had plenty of candidates, so he trained as a B-29 gunner in Amarillo, TX. The war ended just before his deployment, but not before he met his first wife-to-be, Barbara (Bobbie), a registered nurse in Amarillo. He was honorably discharged in 1946, enrolled at University of Nevada – Reno and graduated in 1950 with his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He and Bobbie were married in 1949 and he worked briefly on the UPRR with his father before taking a job as electrical engineer with Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He worked on many projects world-wide for Westinghouse, eventually achieving the title of Fellow District Engineer until his retirement in 1989, having served more than 38 years. In 1959, Doug and Bobbie had their first and only child, Douglas Jr. In 1971, Bobbie passed away and Doug married Carmen Kollmann, widow of Glenn Kollmann, a Navy Commander, naval air and test pilot who was lost during the Vietnam war; Glenn and Carmen had four children: Joe, Jackie, Mary and Jim.
Doug loved Alfa Romeo sports cars and was very active in the local Alfa Romeo Owners Club during the 60’s and 70’s, serving as Chapter President on occasion. His stepson Joe also developed a penchant for Alfas starting as a teen, owning several over the years and being active in local Alfa Club and SCCA events. Joe also had a keen interest in flying, inspired by his father, and developed into an outstanding pilot. Leaving cars for planes, Doug followed his yet unfulfilled desire to fly and earned his private pilot’s license and IFR rating. He owned and flew two successive Navion aircraft for the better part of two decades and truly loved the wide-open freedom of the skies and spending hours in shop talk with Joe (they would revert to Alfisti talk occasionally).
Growing up in the great open spaces left its mark on Doug as he loved all things western, was an avid outdoorsman and loved camping, fishing and hunting, much of which he did with his brother Bob. As Douglas left toddlerhood, it was time to get the lad hooked on camping and fishing…mission accomplished Pop. In Doug’s 70’s and 80’s, he and Douglas would find their way up to Bob’s house on the McKenzie River in Oregon, where, in retirement, Bob had become quite the drift boat captain, wood worker, and fly-tying guru. There, in that incomparable grandeur, unforgettable memories of days fishing on the river, cleaning fish, enjoying gin and tonics with home-smoked salmon jalapeno bagels, nights playing Mexican Train, hours of quiet solitude, waking to the sound of salmon belly-flopping in the river off the back deck, were seared into us.
Carmen passed away in July of 2015, and although Doug outlived her by 6+ years, the wind had clearly been taken out of his sails. He moved to an assisted living facility in Antioch in 2018, beat the first round of Covid in late 2020 and finally moved to a Castro Valley board and care home in 2021. All who were in contact with him would testify that his primary trait was gratitude – being so very thankful for the smallest thing that was done for him or the briefest visit. His last words to Douglas were that he was praying for him and others, and that he did a lot of praying these days. For someone who had never acknowledged God, this confession, this answered prayer, brought comfort and rejoicing to those who had been praying for him for years. We rest in the assurance that we will see you again in the Lord. Be at peace, Pop.
He is preceded by his first wife Barbara Lee Dodds (1971), second wife Carmen Mary Kollmann (2015), brother Robert Thomas Dodds (2020), and sister Betsy Kristine Dodds (2020). He is survived by his son Douglas David (Linda) Dodds Jr., stepson John Joseph (Donna) Kollmann, stepdaughter Jacqueline Joan Tinghitella, stepdaughter Mary Louise Lavigne, stepson James Jerald Kollmann, three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, eight step-grandchildren, and nine step-great-grandchildren.
A private family graveside memorial service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park, where Doug will be laid to rest alongside Bobbie. In lieu of flowers or other donations, consider donating to the board and care home that took such great care of Doug and to whom he was so grateful. Donations may be addressed to: Eden Assisted Living, 18821 Carlton Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546 (gifts are not tax deductible).
Published by East Bay Times on Feb. 13, 2022.
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