Daniel Dovalina

Daniel Dovalina passed from this life to meet his blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2023 in Bellingham, Washington surrounded by his loved ones. He lived a full and happy life of 90 years.

Daniel was born May 7, 1933 to Ernesto and Angelina Dovalina in Laredo, Texas. He had three younger siblings: David, Norma, and Ernesto Jr. He was born into a Catholic, Spanish-speaking, Mexican/American family that lived in a border town of Texas next Nuevo Laredo. He eventually learned English by the Divine Providence Sisters at St. Augustine Catholic School.

He grew up with strong family ties, having grandparents close by, and was surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a boy, his favorite activities were playing baseball and basketball, as well as hanging out at the local drug store with his buddies. After high school he went on to serve in the Air Force for two years and then received a chemistry degree at East Texas State University. After graduation he lived in Chicago for a year and then decided to travel with a friend to California. It was there that he decided to plant his feet and enjoy his bachelor lifestyle.

He finally met the love of his life, Roseanne Booker, and was married at the age of thirty-four. They soon had two children, Janell and Jason. His life became very busy commuting back and forth to work, four hours a day in traffic, making time with his family and friends, and playing golf whenever he could fit it in. He enjoyed traveling and took his family on various trips, which included Hawaii, New York, and Costa Rica. Later he would take his wife on many cruises with their best friends, Hershal and Barbara Clark. They even later visited their daughter in India for several weeks.

Daniel was extraordinarily social and never wanted to miss a party or social gathering. When he eventually retired, he went on to be a greeter at Disneyland for 15 years, where he enjoyed cracking jokes and making people laugh at the “happiest place on earth.” Toward the end of his life, he moved to Bellingham with his wife to be near his daughter.

He is survived by his wife Roseanne, his children Janell and Jason, 12 grandchildren Jessica, Jonah, Maria, Gabriel, Joseph, Draven, Samuel, Rawley, Lucia, Veda, Hartly, and Daxton, as well as his siblings Norma Leal and Neto Dovalina.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 6th at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bellingham.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 29th at 10:00am at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego, CA.