Donna Jean Donaldson Taylor was born in New Franklin, Ohio on February 16, 1930 to John(Pat) and Margaret (Peg) Donaldson who have preceded her in death as did her sister, Betty Plum and brother, David Donaldson. She is survived by Gene, her loving husband of 69 years, daughter Deborah Jackson and spouse Kevin of League City, daughter Jean Galleher and spouse James (Jim) also of League City and son, John and spouse Christine of Virginia Beach ,VA.  Grandchildren include: Christine (Travis) Begley; Michael (Jesse) Taylor; Trip (Casey) Galleher; Courtney (Keith) Germany and Danny Jackson. Donna and Gene had 10 great-grandchildren.  Donna passed peacefully on January 30, 2022.

Donna was raised and educated in Alliance, Ohio graduating from University of Mount Union with a degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduation in 1952, she began teaching the First Grade in the very first grade classroom that she attended. The following Spring, she married Gene , a newly minted Air Force Second Lieutenant who had just completed pilot training, and  they began their 69 year odyssey that took them all over the world. They moved 20 something times from Long Island to Tennessee (where Deborah was born) to Japan (twins John and Jean were born there) to Cape Cod, then England, on to Alabama, Missouri, Virginia and finally Texas.

In Springfield, Virginia and with the children in middle school, she returned to teaching — first, as an Aide then as a full-time teacher at Burke Elementary. After 16 years she retired from the Fairfax County School District. In 1981 Gene retired from the Air Force and bought a small business and they settled in to be near the now married children. But they were bitten by the RV bug … bought a motor home and began to travel and enjoy the joys of the open road and friendships that developed. After a daughter and family relocated to Texas, they began to spend winters in the Rio Grande Valley area coupled with family visits and subsequently moved permanently to Texas while continuing to travel up North annually to visit family and friends.

Donna was a woman of faith and was always active in every church she attended but was most comfortable in the Springfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the denomination in which she was raised.

She was an avid football fan …in her years in Virginia, the Washington Redskins were her team .. knew the history, players, schedule and scores. She quickly moved to the Texans but most recently focused on college games.

Her passion was the game of Bridge. She pursued it from her college days until it was mostly shut down by the COVID pandemic. In the Clear Lake area in Texas, she was in a number of clubs, playing up to four times a week, at country clubs and restaurants, plus the odd game at equally passionate player’s homes.

Donna was an amazing woman … full of fun … extremely adaptable … thrifty … a casserole queen … family oriented … loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother … an extraordinary partner. Most certainly there will be seven little dachshunds with waggly tails ready to greet her at the pearly gates!

There will be a Celebration of Life at The Crossings in League City at a future date. Following cremation, internment will be in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be directed to Chayah Ministries International, Inc, P.O. Box 5638, Ventura CA 93005. (An orphanage in Uganda established by Donna’s niece and nephew) See www.chayah childrenshome.org.

WE’LL SEE YOU LATER, DONNA!