Donald Lee Lamond

Donald Lee Lamond was born in Bakersfield July 10, 1929 to Frank and Catherine Lamond. He passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones on August 7, 2013.
Don was born in Bakersfield, grew up in Long Beach, CA and then moved back to Bakersfield in the 60s. A hard working man who worked from sun up to sun down, he soon opened his own air conditioning and heating business, Lamond’s Refrigeration, which he owned and operated for about 30 years here in Bakersfield. Don trained and mentored several air conditioning mechanics who are working in Bakersfield today. One of which is his son Mike Sullivan who he took under his wing and worked by his side until his retirement. He and Mike shared a special bond and were not only father and son but best friends.
Don loved to dune buggy and boat, and in his younger years this is where you would find him on the weekends. As he grew older, Don took a liking to buying and selling used goods. If you went to the Union Avenue swap meet on Sunday morning you would find Don with a big smile peddling the goods he had picked up at yard sales or from other vendors. He was the kind of person that if you were lucky enough to know him would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.
In Don’s final days we received a Godsend in Dr. Ellen Crowe. Dr. Crowe just happened to be in Bakersfield, and she came to his home to examine him and then referred him to Hoffman Hospice. We are so grateful for her help and that of Margo, our phone nurse at Hoffman Hospice. Thanks to their support Pop was able to live out his final days at home with his family.

Don was preceded in death by his wife and the love of his life, Sue Lamond; one brother, Frank Junior, a step brother, Otis; and a sister, Beverly. He is survived by 5 children: Rikki, Craig, Vikki, Pam and Mike; 6 grandchildren: Tasha, Mary, Rikki Dale, Zachary, Michael and Jessie; 3 great- great grandchildren: Justin, Krystle, and Victor with another one on the way in October. We would be remiss not to mention Kobe Bryant, his faithful black lab who kept him company day in and day out for the past five years after his wife Sue passed.

Don Lamond did it his way both in life and in his passing. We will always remember his big blue eyes and that smile that told you he loved you.

A graveside service to celebrate his life will be held Thursday August 15th at 2pm at Greenlawn Cemetery on River Blvd. in Bakersfield.