Polk County FlArchives Biographies.....McDonald, Henry March 23, 1926 - March 2, 2012 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: William McDonald williamteomi@gmail.com September 3, 2014, 10:32 pm Source: Lakeland Ledger, 3-4-12 Author: William McDonald Henry Webster McDonald Jr. was born in Barwick, Georgia on March 23, 1926 and passed away in Bartow, Florida as the result of a stroke on March 2, 2012. Henry was a veteran of WWII, U.S. Navy, Machinist Mate, 2nd Class, 1942 to 1946, and among other duty stations he served in Long Island, New York where he was active in testing new technology involving torpedoes, the Pacific Theatre aboard the LST 747, and in the Atlantic Theatre as he sailed aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Croatan in order to retrieve service members from France, and ferry them back to the continental United States. At one time or another during the war, he also sailed aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Nausett. He was self-employed as the owner of McDonald Exterminators in Bartow, Florida from 1959 - 1990, and established a reputation for fairness and integrity in this, and surrounding communities. At his retirement, McDonald Exterminators was left in the able hands of Bob Edwards and the business still exists today. During his retirement years, Henry and his wife, Erma lived in Connersville, Florida until 2004, when they moved to Floral Lakes Mobile Home Park in Bartow, Florida. Mr. McDonald enjoyed compiling family genealogy, reading, western movies, country music, gardening, bird watching, and fishing off his own dock in the lake behind his house. He was an accomplished landscape artist and his paintings can be found in homes and businesses throughout the United States. Henry loved his family and socializing with good friends, especially relatives and neighbors, who often stopped by, usually without notice, to visit his wife and him. Henry and Erma McDonald were married for 63 years having lived in Coral Gables, Florida, Highland City, Florida, Connersville, Florida and Bartow, Florida. He was the son of Henry Webster McDonald Sr. and Ruth Daisy Cone McDonald, and the step-son of Mabel Turner McDonald, his father's second wife. He had seven siblings: J.W. McDonald, and Virginia Duncan(deceased), and Jewel Messer, Jeanette Hanson, Evelyn Bess, Robert McDonald and Juanita Richardville. Henry and Erma McDonald were the parents of Dr. William Royce McDonald, (wife Lou Jean) Robert Wayne McDonald, (wife Sharon) Russell Brent McDonald, Linda Susan (McDonald) Osteen, Marianne Swofford Manuele, God-daughter and Bob Edwards, God-son. He had numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; whom he loved and who loved him in return. The McDonald family wishes to thank Rev. Elwood Kern for the time and friendship he contributed to our loved one during his declining days. The visitation and prayers of Roy Lowe, (my mother's pastor) are also appreciated more than we can convey. Daddy's neighbors, Rev. Dick Thompson and Jean Thompson have been wonderful to visit (my) father over the past few months, and have provided food and support to (my) mother after he passed. Henry was a sincere and honest man, a good and hard working man, a man who knew how to laugh and be a friend, a devoted husband and father. He will be missed by all who knew him, and not soon forgotten. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/polk/bios/mcdonald83bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb