Donald Sanders Fraser, Born Jan. 29 1916 in Spartanburg, S.C. and was a Palos Verdes resident since 1950. Died Sept. 26, 2018. Son of Donald Maner Fraser and Ann Sanders Fraser. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Margharet Lyon Fraser, in 2008 and also by their daughter, Ann Fraser Hall in the same year. He is survived by his daughters, Helena Culver Fraser and Joni Lyon Mills. He has a foster daughter, Debra Fatheree of Napa and a brother, David Ladson Fraser, and sister-in-law Eleanor Arnold Fraser of Newport Beach. He has 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Don spent his childhood and early teenage years in the family summer home in the mountains of western North Carolina where he developed a lifelong love of mountains and camping in remote areas. In his later teen-age years, he spent his summers going to sea in one of the last remaining large commercial sailing vessels under the U.S. flag. After graduating from college, he went to sea for eight months in the same schooner, this time serving as mate. As result of his time at sea he qualified to take the exam for a Third Mate’s License. As result of having the Merchant Marine license he obtained a direct commission as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. In the Coast Guard, Don served as commanding officer of an anti-submarine patrol vessel in early WW2 and later as commanding officer of a 125′ Coast Guard Cutter in the Pacific. By the time he finally left active duty he had served four years. He had 2 more years active duty teaching seamanship at the Coast Guard Academy during the Korean War. While in the Coast Guard Don met and married Margharet Culver Lyon of Laguna Beach. She had spent two years attending school in Switzerland while her family lived in Europe. She shared Don’s love of mountains and exploring remote places. After Don left active duty he worked as an associate in a yacht brokerage firm selling yachts in the San Pedro area. Later he became an insurance agent and managed his own yacht insurance agency. He continued to be active in the Coast Guard Reserve training program retiring in the rank of captain in 1976. He graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina in 1939. Don was enthusiastic about showing “city folks” the excitement and joy of ‘camping and exploring in remote desert and mountain areas. Together with Margy, they led St. Peter’s Campers for 3.5 years, often having 50 or more campers on their campouts.
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Posted on: 2018-10-16
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