John E. Donald - Obituary

ohn Edward Donald, 90, died peacefully on Monday, August 7, 2017, in Riva, MD. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. John and his beloved wife, Luella Rice Donald, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on October 15, 2016. John was born on September 6, 1926, in Prince Frederick, MD, the son of the late Paul A., Sr. and Esther M. Donald. He graduated from Annapolis High School in 1943 and went to work for the Naval Engineering Experiment Station, Annapolis, until 1944 when he joined the U.S. Navy, serving until May 1946 as a Pharmacy Mate in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Returning home, John worked from 1946 to 1984 for the Naval Ship Research & Development Center, working on research and development projects in submarine silencing. He also attended George Washington University as part of the USNA Physics program, receiving an Associates degree in engineering. After retirement from NSRDC, he worked for Vector Research in Bethesda until 1987. John was a life member of the Annapolis Yacht Club, the Annapolis Elks Lodge 366, a member emeritus of the USNA Golf Association, the American Legion Post 7, and the Moose Lodge 296. He was a former longtime member of Calvary United Methodist Church. A keen and excellent golfer, he also enjoyed bowling and traveling. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Jacqueline Cogar and a brother, William B. Donald. John is survived by wife, Luella Donald; a daughter, Janis Hosmer and her husband, Larry; siblings Paul A. Donald, Jr. and his wife, Anne and Esther Robinson and her husband, Bob; father-in-law of Bill Cogar; and brother-in-law of Geri Donald. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Jamie Persels (Tony Gay), Jenifer Batchelder (Chuck), Joel Persels (Allison), Andrew, John, and Jessica Hosmer; his great-grandchildren, Ashley, Casey, Chad, and Wyatt Cox, Jacob and Payton Batchelder, and Jack Henry and Hattie Luella Persels; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to celebrate John's life at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, from 11 a.m. until his funeral service begins at 12 p.m. Interment, with military honors, will be held at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s honor to the American Cancer Society, the Melanoma Foundation, or a charity of one’s choice. An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.