Donald Lee Tolle

February 15, 1933 to July 26, 2007

On February 6, 1933, William and Christine Tolle were blessed with the birth of their son, Donald Lee Tolle, in Maysville, Kentucky.  Don spent his early years growing up in Maysville, but later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, with his family when he was 15 and finished his education.  At the onset of the Korean War, Don heard the calling of his great nation in need.  He proudly began serving his country in the United States Navy, serving on the USS Rochester from 1950 through 1953.  It was during this time that the most quintessential point in his life was reached.  While celebrating America s birthday, the 4th of July, 1951, Don met the future love of his life, Barbara June Jones.  That same day, he borrowed six dollars from her in order that he could come back and visit with her.  Don soon discovered that Barb was the one for him.  Even though he had to return to his Naval service, he remained a true romantic at heart.  One year to the day he met her, Don returned and proposed to Barb on the 4th of July, 1952, and in grand fashion, the two were married one year later on the 4th of July, 1953.  Don, once again, had to borrow another twelve dollars from Barb to pay for the marriage license.  On that day, a wonderful story of love, family and happiness began.

On December 17, 1953, Don was honorably discharged from the Navy.  Along with Barb, he soon relocated to the Southern California area and began working on contract with Douglas Aircraft at the Torrance facility, building the new F4-D jet aircraft.  During this time, Don began to build a strong U.S. Government security clearance. During his time at Douglas, Don joined the company's Hunting & Fishing Club. He continued work on the F4-D until the end of the project, five years later. Upon its completion, Don took advantage of the government GI bill and went to college, later earning his degree and returning to Douglas Aircraft at the Long Beach facility to work on the DC-8 and DC-9 programs.

Being ever family-minded, Don and Barb focused on family and were soon twice blessed, first with the birth of their baby boy, Jeffrey Steven in 1962, and later with their baby girl, Sheryl Diane in 1964. Don was, and remained, a truly amazing husband, but he became a wonderfully remarkable father to his children and an aptly capable family man.  Having an avid appreciation of the outdoors, Don chose to include his family in his recreational activities, truly becoming a family affair.  In 1963, Don & Barb joined the Jeeping Jeepers Jeep Club in Long Beach, spending many weekends four-wheeling.  The whole family also began camping and fishing the Lake Isabella area, all the while knowing they would someday retire here.

While back at Douglas Aircraft, Don became a Volunteer Firefighter for the next ten years.  He served as Fire Captain, performing all fire services and becoming CPR & first aid certified.  His service to the public was later acknowledged with numerous plaques and award certificates.

After completion of the DC-9 project at Douglas Aircraft, with security clearance in hand, Don went to work at Northrop Aircraft in Hawthorne, California, in 1968.  While there, he began work on a varied assortment of jet carrier and jet aircraft projects ranging from the 747 skin panel all the way up to the newly developing stealth fighter/bomber projects.  While on the stealth skunkworks projects, Don maintained a security clearance higher than Top Secret, in order that he be able to work at both the Area 51 and Tonopah ranges for covert projects, as well as at Holloman Air Research Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Just as when Don was at Douglas, he also became the Fire Captain of Northrop.  During this time, Don & Barb both joined and later served as president of the Driveway Breakers Camping Club  in 1972, both of them still remaining honorary members today.  On Don & Barb's 25th wedding anniversary, Don finally repaid Barb the 18 dollars he had previously borrowed from her prior to their nuptials.  Being the jokester he was, Don glued 17 Silver Dollars to a Knott's Berry Farm Judge Roy Bean Hitching License, making it impossible for her to spend them.

With the family having grown up, it was time for Don & Barb to settle down.  Don retired from the aerospace industry in 1992 to the family home that he and Barb had built together over the last 27 years in Garden Grove, California.  Soon after, Don heard the calling of the gently flowing waters of the Kern River Valley, harkening him to pick up his roots and replant them here in our valley.  After doing so, he and Barb settled down on the homestead in Bodfish.  Don, not being able to sit still for ten minutes, immediately became active in the valley, joining the Eagle's Aerie, the Moose Lodge and became a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7665 in Lake Isabella.  Still being the fervent outdoorsman, Don joined the El Segundo Rod & Gun Club, the Kern Valley Gun Association, the Fish & Game Habitat Club, Friends of the Hatchery, the Lake Isabella Horseshoe Club and the Beamers Bottle Club.

Being involved with the Fish & Game, Don helped sink over 5,000 Christmas trees through the years into the lake to develop underwater fish habitats.  Also, Don was instrumental in the upkeep of the Wood Duck nesting boxes in the South Fork of the Kern, as well as in the Audubon Society Preserve.  The Quail Guzzlers were yet another project that Don maintained.  During the yearly midseason, he was part of a team that would feed and tag the 7,000 to 10,000 nylon-caged trout used in the local fishing derby.  The Redear Sunfish project and the fish creel census were two more of Don's seasonal programs, all of which gave Don an insight on the best fishing holes and hunting areas around the valley.  Don's dedication to the community and to children really had a chance to shine while being engaged in the presentation of the Kids Fishing Derby, hosting 300 to 500 apt and able and handi-capable kids, giving them free fishing equipment, hot dogs, sodas, prizes and trophies.  Not all of Don's time was spent on the water, however.  During the fall and winter period, he assisted in the organization and hosting of the Junior Pheasant Hunt for kids and later in playing a vital part in the Kern Valley Pride Day.  In the seasons prior to the end of the Dam Tough Run, Don always helped with the dispensation of water for the activities.  Don, being the passionate gardener he was, raised an astonishingly picture-perfect garden that was once featured in The Bakersfield Californian newspaper.  Which leads us to his most recent activity, writing the highly stylized, ever-read column in the Kern Valley Sun called, The Cooks Corner, along with other columns featuring activities and events from around the valley.  All in all, Don never met a stranger.

Like many battles in many wars, not all are always won.  For the last year or so, Don has been fighting the most strenuous battle of his life and with the most heart-felt sadness, this particular battle was lost.  Donald Lee Tolle fell ill, passed away and went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at his home with his loving family at his side.  Funeral services are scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 4, 2007, eleven o'clock a.m. at The First Baptist Church in Lake Isabella, with Pastor Guy Rimstad officiating.  Also, a special veterans memorial tribute will be provided by The Kern River Valley Veterans Honor Guard.

Donald Lee Tolle is survived by his beloved wife Barbara, his son Jeffrey and his daughter Sheryl Muncy. Also by his son-in-law Russ Muncy, grandson Brandon Muncy, granddaughter-in-law Leanne, great granddaughter Brooke Kenadie Muncy and also by his grandsons Rusty and Bryce Muncy.  Not to mention his extended family and the special friends that he has made throughout the years, both here and abroad & all of us knowing the world will be much less a brighter place than it was with Don in it.  Services were entrusted to Sierra Mortuary & Funeral Home.