Donald Lee Stansbarger

After a brief illness Don passed away peacefully on March 7th in Carlsbad CA, with his beloved wife of 38 years Ann by his side. Don was born in Kansas in 1938. In 1958 Don realized his two dreams of becoming a US Marine and moving to California. In the Marines Don served proudly in the Force Recon Battalion. Don married Diane Shagena and went back to college after his service in the Marine Corps. The couple welcomed two daughters, Cindy Ann and Lori Rene. Don earned a BS degree in chemistry from Cal Poly Pomona, and from there went into the aerospace industry. Don was a pioneer in the development and implementation of graphite composite materials while working at Northrop Corporation.

After Don left aerospace in 1982 he became a criminal defense and family law attorney. Don married his second wife Ann McKenzie in 1987, and practiced law from his office above the Redondo Beach pier for 30+ years. Don relocated his practice to Carlsbad after he and Ann moved there in 2014. He practiced there until his retirement in 2020. Don “never met a stranger” and his down home Kansas upbringing gave him the gift of gab. Don lived a very accomplished life, he set big goals and met or exceeded them all, but what Don's extended family and friends will miss most is his genuine youthful nature. Don's sense of mischief and humor were unmatched. Don loved his family and friends without reservation. He was always kind, always supportive, never critical.

Don was proceeded in death by his parents Charles and Georgia, his sister Sharon and brother Ron. He is survived by his brother Bob, his wife Ann, his daughters Cindy and Lori (Royson) four grandchildren, Roman, Kayla (Jeff), David and Erin (Mohan) and three great grandchildren, Quinn, Ivy and Rhoa. He will be buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.