Don Rottle might have officially retired from Rottles Apparel and Shoes in 1997, but he remained a presence at the downtown store until his children closed it last June.

Mr. Rottle died on Dec. 19, surrounded by his family, three days shy of his 90th birthday.

Rottle was active in community and retail organizations, including the King Solomon Masonic Lodge, Kiwanis, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, and the Auburn Valley Bank board.

He enjoyed boating, skiing, fishing, travel and music, but most of all he loved piloting his private plane over the Pacific Northwest landscape.

Born in Montesano, Wash., to A. J. and Rose Rottle, he moved in 1939 with his family to Auburn, the year his father, Abdo, a Lebanese immigrant, opened Rottle’s Apparel and Shoes in the Auburn mini-mall.

Having graduated from Auburn High School in 1943, he attended the University of Washington before enlisting in the Army Air Force and serving during World War II.

During the war he married Carole L. Wright. The couple returned to Auburn to join Don’s father in the business, and started their family.

When Don’s father, Abdo, retired in 1953, Don took over and built up the business. Nine years later, he moved the store to the East Main storefront where it remained through renovations and changing fashions for 53 years as Auburn’s go-to apparel store.

When Rottle retired he passed leadership of the business to his twin sons, John and Jim. The brothers, 1973 graduates of Auburn High School, ran the store until its closure.

“It’s bittersweet to him, but he understand and has embraced it with open arms,” John told the Auburn Reporter of his father’s reaction to the store’s closure,

Don Rottle is survived by his children, Pam (Mike) Epeneter, Nancy Rottle (Paul Olson), John Rottle, and Jim Rottle (Tanya); brother George Rottle (Jeani); twelve grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Family and friends celebrate Don’s life from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 3, at the Auburn Golf Course.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to establish an aviation scholarship in Green River College’s Aviation Program (www.greenrivercollegefoundation.org/donate/memorial-donations), or to your favorite charity.