Donald Beattie Crowson

June 8, 1936 - April 11, 2024

Donald Beattie Crowson passed away on April 11, 2024, in North Vancouver, B.C. He was 87.

Don was born in Vancouver on June 8, 1936, to English immigrants Walter and Agnes Crowson. He grew up in a very British household, which eventually included Aunt Jen (Janet Hope) and Aunt Gert (Gertrude Hope).

After graduating from King Edward High School, he studied electrical engineering at the University of British Columbia. He graduated in 1958 and went on to get his master’s degree.

During his school years, he had a part-time job as a carhop at the White Spot.

Don married Lois Margaret Dilworth on June 5, 1959, and they raised four children — Scott, Sandi, Kalynne and Kymn — in a quiet corner of the British Properties in West Vancouver.

In 1961, Don started at Lenkurt Electric, where he rose to the position of R&D department manager. The company evolved into Microtel Pacific Research (MPR Teltech) and he became the chief engineer.

Don sat on many government and industrial boards in Canada and the U.S., all associated with electronics. This included the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Born an engineer, Don loved to figure out how things worked. It started with tinkering with radios as a teen, which led to becoming a ham radio operator at just 15. He rebuild car engines. He renovated most of his house single-handedly over the decades, adding a second and then a third level. He even built an in-ground swimming pool heated by solar energy — all by himself.

One of the most tragic moments in Don’s life occurred on Jan. 11, 1988, when wife Lois died of a heart attack at home. She was only 51 years old. He also lost his grandson Connor Brettoner, 25, in 2020.

In his 60s, he played in a seniors softball league and continued to golf with friends and host the annual MPR Oldtimers’ golf tournament.

Don joined the Vancouver Paranormal Society in 2005 to use his scientific skills to investigate reports of haunted sites in the Lower Mainland.

An avid reader, Don also became a dedicated member of the Dylan Thomas Circle in Vancouver. He travelled to attend conferences or see sites associated with his literary heroes. Besides Thomas, these included H.P. Lovecraft, Jack Kerouac and Malcolm Lowry. He was also a fan of actor James Dean and went to a festival in Indiana every September.

Don is survived by his son, Scott Crowson (Marilyn), and daughters Sandi Furukawa (Ken), Kalynne Ludgate and Kymn Brettoner; grandchildren Walter, Tye, Cody, Justin, Stephanie, Devon, Trevor and Chase; and great-grandchildren Ryan and Jack.