Donald Abrian Torrence

Donald Abrian Torrence, of Pine Grove, California, passed away on Saturday June 6, 2020 at the age of 83. After several months of declining health, Don died peacefully at home with his loving wife Sharon, his children, grandchildren, sister Patricia and niece and nephew by his side.

Don was born in St Louis, MO on October 8, 1936 to father Charles Torrence and mother Ila Mae Hilton. He was the 4th child in a family of 4 boys and 2 girls. Being one of six children living in rural Missouri, he didn’t have much opportunity for formal education. He left home at the very young age of 14 and worked as a share cropper, a short order cook, and various other odd jobs to make ends meet until he was old enough for military service. At the age of 17 Don joined the US Army and became a military policeman. He honorably served at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA and upon discharge started a family in the Bay Area, where he started working in the grocery industry. Although Don divorced, he was blessed with 4 children, 3 boys and a girl. In 1973 Don found and married the love of his life, Sharon and they spent over 40 happy years together in Pine Grove.

After 37 years of dedicated service to the grocery industry, Don retired and directed his efforts towards his true passion, weight lifting, riding motorcycles and spending time with his family. Don didn’t do anything half way, if he told a funny story, he would have an entire room laughing so hard that tears were streaming out of every face, if he competed in a power lifting competition, he set new world records (multiple times over) and if he was going for a motorcycle ride, he was riding to Sturgis. As a son, a husband, a brother or a father, Don was anything but ordinary. Prior to his decline, Don squeezed every ounce out of life and in death will be dearly, dearly missed.

Don is survived by his wife Sharon, his 4 children Vernon, David and Mark Torrence and Debby Neely; his 3 stepchildren, Thomas, Scott and Michael Schinaman, 12 grandchildren, his sister Patricia Dunlap, niece Shelley Wiler and nephew Dale Dunlap. A memorial service will be held on a date to be determined as the regulations and mandates around COVID-19 evolve.