HATCH, Donald C. 1916 - 2009 Passed away peacefully at his home in Spokane Valley on April 15, 2009 after a short illness. Born Donald Ceylon Hatch on March 6, 1916 in Pittsburgh, PA, Don was the youngest of three sons born to Carrie Hofer and Charles Hatch. He graduated from Mount Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh in 1934, and attended Carnegie Institute of Technology for a year before transferring to the Robert Morris Institute of Accounting. Don left school in 1938 and traveled west to California, where he found employment as a cost clerk at the Columbia Steel Company in Pittsburgh, California. There he met LaVonAndrews, and they were married in Carson City, Nevada in 1940. In 1943 Don joined the Army and served in various administrative functions until 1946. After being discharged, he and LaVon headed to the coast, but made it as far as Spokane before their money ran out. After a stint as a cost accountant with the Sparling Smith Steel Company in Spokane, Don formed a partnership with three of his co-workers and founded the Allied Steel Products Company in 1952. In 1953 the partnership bought Acme Fence Company, which was in the business of selling and constructing residential fencing, and in 1954 the operation incorporated under the name of Allied Industries, Inc. Before Don retired, Allied Industries had become the fourth largest fencing company west of the Mississippi River. After retirement, Don became involved in local charities. He was active in the Spokane Valley Shrine Club of the El Katif Temple, serving as president in 1992. He volunteered as a driver for the Shrine Hospital for Children in Spokane. He also delivered meals for the"Meals on Wheels" program for several years. Don had an adventurous spirit, and traveledextensively with LaVon, his wife and lovingcompanion for 68 years. Don loved dancing, gardening, golfing, eating LaVon's cooking and spending time with his family and friends. Don is preceded in death by his wife LaVon and his brothers, Robert and Harold. He is survived by his sons, Dennis Hatch and his wife Dawn of Spokane, Randy Hatch and his wife Chris of Silverdale, WA, and Steven Hatch and his partner Carol Zimmerman of Brier, WA. He is also survived by his six wonderful grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He will be forever in our hearts. A visitation for family and friends will be Friday, April 24 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, WA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 10:00 am at Thornhill Valley Chapel. Don will be laid to rest in the Pines Cemetery Mausoleum, next to his beloved LaVon. Please make any remembrances to Hospice of Spokane and Valley General hospital. Published on 4/19/2009 Spokesman-Review