Editor,

My father’s obituary was in the South Whidbey Record on Saturday, May 5, when his funeral was announced at high noon on that very same day.

At 10 a.m., as we were preparing to play Taps on a phone, only two hours before my father’s funeral, Sgt. of Arms Ed Donery and his wife Pam came to our rescue to give our father, Dr. C. Dudley Saul lll, retired Navy captain, a traditional Marine Corps send off! My father’s last duty assignment was in Okinawa, Japan as the “general surgeon” for the Marines.

All morning, Detachment 1451, Colonel Richard “Buck” Francisco Marine Corps League South Whidbey, scrambled to find Marines to include a chaplain for Psalms 23:4, a bugler for Taps and an additional three for a 21-gun salute!

The Donery told me of a day, years ago at Bush Point when my mom, Patricia Ann Saul, had witnessed Ed Donery falling from scaffolding from the Bush Point Restaurant. My mom immediately called Whidbey General in Coupeville, where my dad, Dr. C. Dudley Saul III, was waiting.

The memories of Whidbey consist of a great appreciation for all our neighbors and friends. Our family is very proud to say we are from South Whidbey.

Catherine Saul Burnside

South Whidbey