Francis Donald Nixon was born Monday, November 23, 1914 in Yorba Linda, California, the son of Frank Anthony Nixon and Hannah Milhous. He grew up in Yorba Linda and Whittier, graduating from Whittier High School, Class of 1933. Don married Clara Jane Lemke on August 9, 1942. They had three children. He was a longtime resident of Newport Beach. Don was a longtime businessman and consultant. He was involved in a variety of businesses in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They included grocery stores and restaurants in Orange and Los Angeles counties. In 1969, he became a vice president of the Marriott Corporation. He took an early retirement in the spring of 1974. He was a longtime former member of the Whittier School Board. Don passed away on Saturday evening, June 27, 1987 of pneumonia following a four-year battle with cancer at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, he was survived by his brothers, Edward and Richard, and several Milhous cousins. A Memorial Service was held on Tuesday, June 30, 1987 at 2:00 p.m. at East Whittier Friends Church located at 15911 Whittier Boulevard in Whittier.
Don was laid to rest in a private ceremony following the conclusion of the Memorial Services at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
