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If you wanted to know anything about the St. Louis Cardinals, all you had to do was ask Bob Donaldson. He was the expert. And not only on the Cardinals and baseball but he was a dedicated follower of all Cushing Tiger Sports--especially wrestling and basketball. His love of basketball transcended his 5' 9" height. In Beecher City, Illinois High School, he was a three year starter in both baseball and basketball. But it was his love of basketball that inspired him during his service in the U.S. Navy. Assigned to the USS Salisbury Sound in the South Pacific, Bob was the starting guard for the Navy basketball team that won the Far East Championship. He was proud of that for the rest of his life.
Robert (Bob) Donaldson was born February 4, 1932 to Eva Wills Donaldson and Rollie Donaldson in Beecher City, Illinois. He died August 22, 2007 in Oklahoma City at Integris Baptist Medical Center.
Bob attended Beecher City schools graduating in 1950.He joined the Navy in 1951 and served through October 1954. His Navy years were very important to him and even recently he reminisced about that championship team--even naming every teammate after 50 years.
A career with Shell Oil Pipeline began in 1954 and took Bob to Columbus, Ohio; Wood River, Illinois; and on to Cushing where he retired in 1988 as Supervisor of Oil Movement from the Cushing Tank Farm.
Bob found a place for service and leadership through the Cushing-Drumright Elks Lodge #2712 where he was a charter member of 22 years. He was honored as Elk of the Year in 1993-94. He served in many capacities in the Elks Lodge including Board of Trustees (1994-96), Chairman of the Auditing Committee (2001-2007). He was chairman of Elks Bingo for 20 years, involved in the Children's Halloween Carnival and the College Scholarship Committee. It is no surprise that he continued to find a place for basketball through the Elks Hoop Shoot Freethrow Contest!
Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Eileen Curry Donaldson anddaughters Lee Ann Butler and husband Donald of Cushing; Kim Feltes and husband Toby of Bethalto, Illinois; Julie Frank of Cushing; Jodi Bolen and husband Percy of Norman, Oklahoma. A son Robert (Bo) Donaldson is deceased.
Special family include Paula Gregory Morris and daughter Addie Renee Morris. Grandchildren are Todd and Cory Kirk; Justin Butler; Kyle, Kelly and Amanda Feltes; Christopher and Brannon Frank. Great grandchildren are Jensen Kirk and Paul and Bo Butler.
Bob was one of a family of nine children. His brother Richard Donaldson survives. Seven siblings are now deceased and include brothers Vern, Gerald, John, Charles, Marvin Donaldson and sisters Vera Donaldson and Mildred Barkhurst.
Rosary will be said at Davis Funeral Home at 5 p.m. Friday by Father Paul Obi Amaliri. Visitation with the family is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the Covenant Fellowship Church, 1022 North Little Avenue, Cushing, Oklahoma. Services will be conducted by Pastor Arthur Fox.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that remembrances be made to the Bo Donaldson Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Cushing Elks Lodge.
Family friends who will serve as pall bearers are Barry Patterson, Kasey Simpson, Jeff Johnson, Vic Caudle, Chad Short, and Bryan McBrayer.
A man who knew the joy of hunting morel mushrooms, Bob's love of family, sports, the Elks Lodge and his career with Shell extended to going fishing with friends and family at the family-owned Pine Rim Lake in Illinois.
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