Obit of Donaldson, Joan (d543) - Garfield County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 28 Oct 2004 Return to Garfield County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/garfield/garfield.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Odessa American 23 Feb 2004 Joan Donaldson ENID, Okla. — Joan Steinberger Donaldson, 75, of Enid, Okla., a civic volunteer, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Enid. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today at Emmanuel Baptist Church with the Rev. Wade Burleson officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery in Midland. Arrangements are by Henninger-Allen Funeral Home. She was born in Bowling Green, Ky. She was a Christian. SURVIVORS: Sons, David H. Donaldson Jr. of Austin, Mark R. Donaldson of Odessa and John E. Donaldson of Enid, Okla.; brother, John Clinton Steinberger of El Paso; and seven grandchildren. ========= Odessa American 24/25 Feb 2004 Joan Steinberger Donaldson ENID - Joan S. Donaldson, 75, died February 19, 2004 at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Enid after a stroke at her home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. February 23, 2004 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Enid, Okla., with the Rev. Wade Burleson presiding. Burial will be February 25 at 11:00 A.M., in the Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, Midland, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Henninger-Allen Funeral Home of Enid, Okla. She is survived by her brother, John Clinton Steinberger of El Paso, her sons David H. Donaldson Jr. and wife Susan of Austin, Mark R. Donaldson and wife Debbie of Odessa, and John E. Donaldson and wife Cindy of Enid, as well as her seven grandchildren, Matthew, Shannon, Luke, John, Lauren, Jillian and Meredith. She was preceded in death by David H. Donaldson, her husband of 52 years, and her parents Clark R. and Virginia Hyndman Steinberger. Joan was the first of the two children born to Clark and Virginia Steinberger. She was born on March 25, 1928, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where her Oklahoma-based parents were staying while her father, Clark, was working as a geologist for the Ohio Oil Co. They later moved to Houston, where her father went into the oil business with his father and brothers. She lived in Houston, where she spent much of her early childhood. One of her fond memories was riding her bike all around Houston. After a brief time in Beaumont, she and her family moved to Midland, Texas. "Fleetwood," as she was fondly known, graduated from Midland High School in 1945, where she had been a member of the tennis team, the Science Club, the Dramatics Club, the National Honors Society and the "Fifenelas," an informal group of high school friends. After high school she attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha for a short time, then transferred to the University of Texas of Austin. She pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma, as her mother had, and always treasured her time at the Kappa House in Austin. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1950. Despite having been raised in a household of parents who attended the University of Oklahoma, she was a lifetime Longhorn, becoming a Life member of the Texas Exes Alumni Association. In the summer of 1949 she returned to Midland and agreed to go on a blind date with a young ex-Marine oilfield engineer named David "Dave" Donaldson. Dave and Joan's relationship blossomed into marriage in April 1950, and they stayed together until Dave's death in December 2003. After their marriage they made their home in Odessa where Joan and Dave raised their boys. In addition to making a home for Dave and her boys, she was active in the Junior Service League, a volunteer at the Medical Center in Odessa, and a charter member of the Antioch Christian Church. In 1973, when Dave's oil business required him to move to Northern Oklahoma, Dave, Joan and John, the only boy still remaining at home, moved to Enid where Dave and Joan completed their life together. In Enid, Joan was a member of the Oakwood Country Club and a volunteer at Bass Baptist Hospital. Joan loved to play bridge: "Bridge Club" was a regular part of her life in Odessa and Enid. Until her health intervened, Joan was an avid golfer, winning several golf tournaments in Odessa. She loved to fish, and she loved to take her sons dove hunting. She also enjoyed spending time with her family at Lake LBJ in Texas where she gave her grandkids rides on the Waverunner. She loved shopping and traveling. She and Dave made trips to Hawaii, British Columbia, Mexico, England and several trips to Lake Tahoe. Joan enjoyed spending time with her many friends in Odessa when she and Dave were there, and made many new and long-lasting friends in Enid. She grew up in a loving family, and she continued that tradition. She helped create a strong sense of family and family time, and she and Dave set a standard for a loyal and loving relationship that her sons have tried to emulate. The family traditions that she engendered will continue. She will be missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the local Salvation Army Chapter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Garfield County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/garfield/garfield.html