Donald Henry Stuhring M.D.

On Thursday March 27, 2014, Dr. Donald H Stuhring went home to be with his Lord and Savior. He was born September 17, 1924 in New Jersey. He was first and foremost a loved husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Barbara H Stuhring, his college sweetheart, to whom he was married for over 60 years, daughter Susan Lowatchie, and sons Paul Stuhring and Dr. Glen Stuhring.

Don grew up in South Orange New Jersey, son of a grocery clerk, enlisted in the Navy, excelled, and became a pharmacist assistant and eventually recognized by his commander as a prospect for college. A chance to go to Princeton University, much less graduate with honors, was a dream for him and his family. He went on to get degrees in a Doctorate of Medicine, Public Health and eventually, an Aerospace Medical Surgeon, Hyperbaric Medicine Specialty. He was offered a position at Boeing as the head of the medical division of their aerospace program, so the family moved out West. He was instrumental in developing commercial airline safety features, such as the “overhead oxygen mask when the cabin pressure drops”. He was Boeing’s lead physician in their collaboration with the manned space program at Cape Kennedy and Houston.

Retiring in good health, he stayed active in many sports, including volleyball, a national championship softball league and joy of salmon fishing. He did finally catch his 54 lb. trophy salmon on the Kenai. Spanish was his second language and practiced it on the unsuspecting, often. He was known as a master gardener to his neighbors, building raised beds filled with meticulously composted soil. He gave away tons of tomatoes and tomato plants. We think his motto would be, “if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right the first time”.

In the last 10 years, he and Barbara moved to Ellensburg to be near their children, and, of course, he continued raised bed gardening until they moved into a comfortable retirement home setting. He kept active until suffering complications of a fractured hip and shortly after, passed on to heaven comfortably.

He would want to be remembered as a man of high integrity, of faith despite a scientific background, a dearly loved, dedicated leader of his family, and a man who displayed with his intelligence and sense of humor the importance of a strong will of striving to do the right thing, the best you can, before you’re done. These attributes will be carried on and never forgotten.

A private memorial will be held in celebration of his blessed 89 years. Remembrances could be a prayer offered for your faith and strength as we will all experience these losses.

Arrangements under the direction of Steward & Williams Tribute Center, Ellensburg, WA.