Donald Louis Schultz Jr. Obituary (1932 - 2018)

Donald L. Schultz, Jr. peacefully slipped into eternity on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, while sitting at his computer at his beloved mountain home on Little Indian Creek Road, John Day, Oregon. Born in California on October 27, 1932, he was the second child of Donald & Martha Schultz. Upon graduation from the University of California at Berkley he married Sharon Shirley in 1954 and began his Engineering stint with California Highways Department in Bishop, California. They began their family there, seeing the arrival of their first 2 children Debbie and Steven transferring to the California Bridges Dept in Sacramento and moving to Rancho Cordova, CA. where there next two children, Christopher and Martha were born. He took a Managing Engineering position with Aerojet/GenCorp and earned his Master Degree in Business attending night school. His duties there found him overseeing the rocket nozzle for the Saturn V Rockets that lifted all the Lunar Spacecraft of the 1960's. Due to his additional duties of designing the placement collar for the Saturn V, Don was present at Cape Canaveral/Kennedy for each of the moon shots. With one 7-year period as Managing Engineer for Inter Lake Industrial Rack, after the Lunar Mission shut down, he was re-hired to finish his career at Aerojet actually receiving a Scientist/Manager designation and retiring in 1993. For several years before retiring Don and Sharon would travel to John Day, OR attend church even subscribed to the local paper to see about moving there. One summer he decided to enter the LumberJack Axe Throwing Competition during the Fair. He won first place and without hesitation signed over his cash prize to the local 4H to which the Blue Mountain Register stated, "This Californian can move here anytime!" They moved to John Day after acquiring the Little Indian Creek Ranch in 1993, bringing with them 2 of their Grandchildren they had just adopted. This began many years of activity at John Day Church of the Nazarene and local schools and 4H with Marshall and Myia both graduating from Grant Union High School. Don was an avid outdoorsman who probably would have been as pleased to have been a Forrest Ranger or a Timber Manager as a Mechanical Engineer. He had a keen mind and desired to know information thoroughly on a wide-range of topics. He had a passion for his Savior Jesus Christ and the furthering of the Gospel through the Local Church and missions, often sitting on Church Boards and giving to missions work. He is survived by his older sister Shirley Schultz Anderson aged 90 of Auburn, CA. His Wife Sharon of 63 years, Children Debra (Paul) of Visalia, CA, Steven (Cindi) of Rocklin, CA Chris of Rocklin, CA his 8 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren. Don was preceded into death by his Parents and Daughter, Martha.