Donald Ernest Lampman.
In the care of Chapel of the Roses & Chapel of the Roses Cemetery
– On Nov. 6, 2024, Donald Ernest Lampman (94) finished his earthly course and went home to be with the Lord he loved, Jean (his wife of almost 68 years), his parents, and numerous other friends and family. What a day of rejoicing that must have been, although we who remain will miss him dearly here.
Don was born in Long Beach, CA on January 17, 1930. He moved to Atascadero when he was 2 years old, attended school here, and graduated from Atascadero High School in 1947. Following his graduation, Don worked at Atascadero Ford, attended Cal Poly, and served some time in the Army National Guard, before enlisting in the Navy in December 1950. He served aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Princeton as a radio repairman during the Korean War.
After being discharged from the Navy, Don went to work for the California Division of Highways (now CalTrans) until he retired. During this time he met his future wife, Doris Jean Clutter, at the feed store where she was working. He had gone there to get supplies for his mom, and after leaving he said that he had met the girl he was going to marry.
They wed in Ohio, where Jean was originally from, on November 26, 1955. Their first home was in Solvang to be near Don’s work. They then moved to Santa Barbara, where their only son, James Donald Lampman, was born on March 8, 1957. They also lived in Grover City before building a house and moving back to Atascadero in the early 1970s, where they lived the rest of their lives.
Selflessness is a word that comes to mind when thinking about Don. He was constantly lending a helping hand to friends and neighbors, as well as any stray cat or dog, that he and Jean encountered. He also was a very generous donor to many, many charities that he faithfully contributed to year after year.
He was well known for his genius in all things mechanical, and for recreation he built several cars, dune buggies, a camper, and even a tractor as a teenager from parts salvaged from the nearby local landfill. He was very adventuresome, from taking friends dune buggying at the Pismo Dunes, to taking the camper he built on trips, or going on motorcycle adventures with friends ranging from the hills in Pozo or Ballinger Canyon in California to the mountains of Ouray, Colorado. Don liked to challenge himself to see if he could reach the top of difficult climbs with his motorcycle, often choosing the most rigorous trails.
Don is survived by his son, James Lampman, his cats Twerps and Campie, as well as several very close friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, his mother, Grace, his father, Ernie, and an older brother who died as an infant.
The Paso Robles Daily News accepts and publishes local obituaries and death notices free of charge from individuals and local funeral homes. See information and tips here on writing an obituary. Please submit the obituary a few days before services, if possible. To submit an obituary, please email it to skye@accesspublishing.com with “obituary” in the subject line. Please email a photo along with the obituary.