OBITUARY:

Donald “Don” Walton Bloeser, a Long Beach man and the owner of a Costa Mesa carpet and flooring business, died of natural causes Aug. 23. He was 91.

Bloeser was the third-generation owner of John Bloeser Carpet One, a flooring business that his grandfather, John Bloeser, started in 1879. In addition to stores in Long Beach, Downey and Fullerton, Don Bloeser operated a Costa Mesa store for more than 20 years. In 1977, the family opened the Fishtail restaurant, now the oldest seafood restaurant in Long Beach, said Jerry Bloeser, Don Bloeser’s son.

“He loved his work,” Jerry Bloeser said. “He was a very, very hard, industrious worker,” Jerry Bloeser said.

Don Bloeser was involved with many service organizations, including the Rotary Club, the Boy Scouts and Meals on Wheels. He was also a member and past master of the Freemasons, Lodge 278. He also loved to garden.

Don Bloeser was born Aug. 30, 1914, in Los Angeles. Growing up in Brentwood, Bloeser spent time at the Catalina Island home his grandparents purchased in 1880.

In 1937, Bloeser married Ella Wheeler. Together they have two sons, John and Jerry Bloeser. Ella Wheeler Bloeser died in 1970.

When Don Bloeser’s father died in 1940, he partnered with his mother to run the family business. The Bloeser family lived in Long Beach, where John and Jerry Bloeser still live.

After retiring, Bloeser worked as a travel and tour guide for eight years and moved to Leisure World in Seal Beach. He died at Bel Vista Convalescent Hospital on Aug. 23.

He is survived by his two sons, John Bloeser and Jerry Bloeser; daughters-in-law, Paula Bloeser and Mimi Bloeser; grandchildren Alison Evors, Ryan Bloeser, Mark Bloeser, Stacey Bloeser and JC Bloeser; and great-grandchildren Evie Evors, Chase William Evors and Braden Richard Evors.

A memorial service will be held Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m. at the Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary Chapel, 5161 Arbor Rd., Long Beach. Donations can be made to the Catalina Island Museum, P.O. Box 366, Avalon, CA 90704.