Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many

Donald Merrill Shupe died at home on July 19, at the age of 85.
Merrill, as he was known to all, was born in Boise, and grew up on a farm in Gooding, Idaho. He worked hard, as all farmers do. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Utah State University.
He married his beloved wife, Marjean, in 1959 in the Idaho Falls temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They lived in many homes in Utah, Maryland, Connecticut, California and Oregon before settling in Claremont in 1977.
They raised two daughters, Kathleen and Karen, who were so fortunate to grow up with loving parents. They enjoyed 55 years of marriage before her death in 2014.
He was active in the LDS church, where he served in many volunteer positions. He loved cars and loved to take road trips to discover this beautiful country and try the regional barbeque. He also enjoyed flying. He was an active member of the Pomona Valley Pilots Association, the Pomona Valley Corvette Association, and took many trips with both groups.
He worked on submarines after college. He had a business that made and installed custom stereo equipment. He also sold cars in Idaho, and in Claremont for Richard Hibbard Chevrolet. He then earned his credential as an enrolled agent with the Internal Revenue Service and started a business preparing taxes and doing bookkeeping for small businesses.
After retirement, he enjoyed working with the Claremont Police Department as a volunteer and police aide. He worked with the department for almost 20 years, and the fine men and women there became like a second family to him.
He is survived by his daughter Kathleen and grandson Kyle.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A funeral service was held on July 27 at the LDS chapel in Claremont.