July 4, 1938 ~ December 28, 2015
Robert Eugene Donahue, 77, Deming resident passed away Monday December 28, 2015 at his home after a long battle with cancer. As per his wishes, cremation will take place at Baca's Mimbres Crematory and no services will be held.
Robert was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on July 4, 1938 to Mattie Roe and Roy Donahue. Roy's mother never let him forget she missed the rodeo giving birth to him.
In 1956, after graduating Bartlesville High School, he joined the Army, and three years later, he went directly into the Navy for a combined total of 15 years. He had to go through boot camp twice, first the Army, then the Navy. He was an avionics electrician, AE-1. He served in Vietnam and the Cold War Era. During the Cuban Missile Crisis his Squadron flew over Soviet ships taking pictures of their missiles. He participated in President Kennedy fly by, Cuba Blockade, and the Project Mercury and recovery for Gordon Cooper. He did a three month stint flying helicopters in Vietnam. Receiving an honorable discharge in 1971, he worked for TRW and then Phillips Petroleum Company.
He loved camping, riding 4-wheelers, animals, children and making people laugh and playing poker with friends.
Robert is survived by Joanne, his wife of 18 years; 2 sisters, Betty White of Bartlesville, OK and Shirley Donahue of Dewey, OK; brother, Jerry Donahue of Inola, OK. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Henry Donahue and mother, Mattie L. (Roe) Donahue, brother, Roylen Donahue, sisters, Mary McDowell and Linda Donahue.