Donald Walter Layton, Sr.

Donald Walter Layton, Sr., a 15-year Fallbrook resident, a geologist and retired professor, passed away on April 12, 2005, from complications of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Husband of Barbara Layton, father to Tara (Jeff) Wyneken and Donald (Pam) Layton Jr., brother to Pay (Lyle) Miller, brother-in-law to O.J. Early, stepfather to Carl, Robin, Dana and Dale Vrsalovich and Jodie Hall. Grandfather to 13 and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was born October 4, 1927, in San Diego, the only son and middle child to Earl Walter Layton and Winifred Gore. He was raised in a loving Naval family and lived in San Diego, Virginia, Cuba, and Oregon. After graduation from Cottage Grove High School in Oregon he joined the Navy, where he served two tours of duty, WWII and during the Korean conflict. He was stationed in the South Pacific, directly in attendance during the Atomic Bomb testing in Bikini Atoll.

After military service he married Arline Radform Layton and acquired his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Arizona. He and Arline moved to Canada, where they started their family and Don began his career as a petroleum geologist.

The next move was back to Tuscon, where he joined the USGS and added their second child to the family. More education and a move brought Don to the Norwalk area, where he joined the faculty of Cerritos College. The Earth Science Department was his “home” for the next 27 years, retiring in 1989. It was at Cerritos College that he met his present wife, Barbara.

Retirement brought Don and Barbara to Fallbrook, where Don actively involved himself in the Garden Club and Gem and Mineral Society. He also stayed active in the California Retired Teachers Association.

Always happy to be involved, Don catalogued and donated many items to the Gem and Mineral Museum. He especially enjoyed field trips with his students.

His laughter, love and antics will be greatly missed by his family and friends, who loved and admired him.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his younger sister Beverly and niece Susan Miller.

Donations may be made to the Cerritos College Foundation and the Fallbrook Gen and Mineral Society.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2005, at the Fallbrook Masonic Center, located at 203 Rocky Crest Road in Fallbrook.