Long time Palmer resident Don L. Pollock died Feb. 4, 2010, at Mat-Su Regional Hospital.

Born to Don C. and Mabel Pollock of Waynesburg, Pa., on Sept. 29, 1929, he was an only son surrounded by three loving sisters. He graduated from the University of West Virginia with a degree from the Agriculture Department in 1950 and married Martha Jacobs the same year.

Heir to a cattle and sheep farm in Greene County, Pa., his sense of adventure drew him instead to Alaska. The family’s departure made the front page of the local newspaper and many of the townspeople lined the streets of Waynesburg to see them off. After a month on the road, Pollock and and family arrived in the Mat-Su Valley in 1958 without any contacts, work or property.    Within a year, D.L. and Martha bought 160 acres of land on Lazy Mountain where the family put down roots and remains to this day. He and his wife became members of the United Protestant Church in Palmer, where they worshipped for 52 years and he served as elder.

He worked for the UAF experimental farm in Palmer for 25 years and then retired to the mountain. He enjoyed the outdoors, photography, reading and travel. A trip to Scotland with Martha and daughter Janet was a favorite. 

His wife describes him as a “great man, an adventurer, a leader and communicator, and a consensus builder.”

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Martha; and children Janet Aslin, John Pollock, Eva Pollock, Dan Pollock and Betty Pierce all of Palmer. He was preceded in death by his son, Don  C. Pollock, who died in the Alaska Airlines crash in 1971. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Ben Brown, Tara Pollock, Gareth Pollock, Maryanna Brown, Cody Pierce, Laurel Pollock Robin Pollock and Peter Brown. His remaining sister, Helen Rodgers, lives in West Virgina.

Mr. Pollock’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. at the United Protestant Church in Palmer. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Presbytery of Yukon at 616 W. 10th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501 or to the charity of one’s choice.