Donal D Compton
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A - November 24, 2010
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A - November 27, 2010
Donal D. Compton of Fruita
passed away peacefully at his
home in the early morning hours
of November 22, 2010.
Don was born April 5, 1920 to
Roy W. and Bessie Hensley
Compton in Branson, Missouri. In
1922 the Compton family which
now included baby Ellen, traveled
in the Model T Ford around
20 states, settling in Fruita in 1923.
Bessie and the children, Don, Ellen, Herman (Bud) and Joann
stayed on the family farm in Fruita while Roy worked their homestead
on Douglas Pass.
During his youth Don rounded up wild horses, which he broke and
sold. As a young man, he worked on hay crews on many farms
around the area, including DeBeque, Collbran and Molina. He
graduated from Fruita Union High School in 1938.
Don was drafted into the Army in 1941 and was stationed at Eagle
Pass, Texas where he repaired fighter planes and trained pilots on
the use of the planes.
On February 10, 1944 he married his best friend's sister, Virginia
Bathhurst, at her parents home in Fruita. The couple left immediately
for Texas where they both worked on aircraft.
After being discharged from the Army in 1945, Don and Virginia
settled in Fruita to raise their family and farm. During this time Don
worked for five years cutting meat at the original Fruita Coop when
it was a grocery store. Years later he was on the board of directors of
the Fruita Coop, eventually becoming President of the Board of Directors.
For many years Don worked for the Bureau of Land Management,
maintaining grounds in the winter and fighting fires in the
summer.
Don and Virginia and their sons spent many happy hours hunting,
fishing, and enjoying the great Colorado outdoors.
In 1988 the family built their cabin at Arrowhead, which is still
enjoyed by their family.
After Don retired he and Virginia traveled thru California and Arizona,
with family and friends.
Don is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Virginia, his parents,
his sister Joann, and his brother Bud.
He is survived by his sister Ellen Roberts, his special friend Elma
Barslund, his son Don and his wife Richie, his son Roy and his fiancé
Vira Crouse all of Fruita, 12 grandchildren, and 20
great-grandchildren. Don is further survived by nieces and nephews
in Colorado, California, Arizona, and Missouri. He is very much
loved and will be greatly missed by all of us.
Contributions can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western
Colorado, 3090B No. 12th Street, Grand Junction, Colorado,
81506.
Services will be held on Monday, November 29, 2010, at 11:30
AM at the Fruita Assembly of God Church. Military Services will
follow at New Elmwood Cemetery in Fruita.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A -card of thanks - January 12, 2011
Card of Thanks
The family of Donal Compton, Sr. would like to thank the community,
friends and family for expressions of sympathy, food, cards,
donations to Hospice and other contributions made in his honor.
We would especially like to thank the Grand Valley Combined
Honor Guard, the Patriot Guard Riders and Bill Davis with the Veterans
Memorial Bell for the awesome graveside military tribute.
