Oct. 23, 1922 — Dec. 30, 2008

Donald Newton Carman was born in Shanghai, China, to missionary parents, the Rev. Newton H. Carman and Mildred S. Carman, M.D. (nee Mildred Alice Scott).

As a child he lived in Illinois, Iowa, California and South Dakota before moving to Corvallis in 1939. He served during World War II as a language specialist for the U.S. Navy. He briefly taught mathematics at Oregon State College both before and after the war.

He married Kathrine Jensen on March 6, 1948, in Chicago. In 1950, they returned to Corvallis, where he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for many years.

Donald had an overall love of learning and interests and hobbies too numerous to list. After retiring in 1979, he and Kathrine traveled frequently, to Europe, South and Central America, Hawaii, and throughout the United States, as well as to Mexico and Canada. His interests were reflected in his large library, including many beautiful editions of Omar Kayyam’s “Rubaiyat”and Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” He had copies of these books in several languages.

Donald minored in languages and spoke Chinese as his first language in China, which he learned in part from amahs while his mother was busy as the sole doctor at the mission in Swatow.

He was interested in decorating his home with art, some of which were his own creations. He also had a positive love of animals and especially loved cats.

Survivors include his wife, Kathrine, of Corvallis; son, Frederick of Hillsboro; daughter, Patricia Mueggler of Portland; three grandchildren; brother Kenneth Carman of Salina, Kan.; and sister Cynthia Wallace of Elbridge, N.Y.

Arrangements were made with DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home and Crematory, www.demossdurdan.com.