Joe Richard Donaldson, MD

Joe Richard Donaldson, MD, 96, of Pampa, died Wednesday, September 17, 2014, in Austin, Texas. His body was donated to University of Texas Medical Branch at San Antonio. Memorial services will be at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 11, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church with John Curry and Rev. Dr. Ran Loy, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Dr. Donaldson was born September 24, 1917 in Cleburne, Texas, to Charles Lyle and Anna Bell Willis Donaldson. He went to grade school in Amarillo then junior high school and high school in Lubbock. In 1939, he graduated from Texas Tech University in pre-med. Then he attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and finished his medical degree in 1944. He belonged to Phi Chi fraternity and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, an honorary medical society. He completed his internship and surgery residency at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis in 1944-1948. It was in Indianapolis that he met and married Laura Ellen “Johnnie” Johnson in February 1946. Johnnie was the head surgical ORN (Operating Room Nurse). After a short stay in Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Joe and Johnnie moved to Pampa, Texas in 1949. Dr. Joe was associated with the Overton Clinic and became partners with Dr. Ed Williams after Dr. Overton retired in 1966. After Dr. Williams retired, Dr. Joe had a solo practice until 1996. Dr. Donaldson was very active in medical affairs and worked closely with the Texas Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the Society of Abdominal Surgeons, the Alumni of the University Medical Branch in Galveston, and the Top of Texas Medical Society. He was Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Highland General Hospital and nine years as Trustee at Pampa Regional Medical Center. In Pampa, Dr. Joe worked in many organizations – Lions Club, Pampa Chamber of Commerce and Gold Coats, Tri State Seniors Golf Association, Pampa Youth and Community Center, Alumni of Texas Tech, Red Raider Club, Pampa Masonic Lodge #966, Lubbock Scottish Rite Consistory, Pampa Shrine Club, Habitat for Humanity, and others. He was a member of the First Methodist Church and served as president of the Men’s Class and Methodist Men. Later he served as a greeter every Sunday morning. His life was totally involved in his family, the practice of medicine, his church, and his community – and golf. He always had a smile for you and was known to tell a good story or two. He shared his garden and his fruit ministry with all his friends. Joe treasured Johnnie, the love of his life, for almost 60 years. She died in 2005, and now they are finally together again. He loved his four children – Ann, Gail, Richard, and Jill, as well as his four grandchildren and one great grandson. Survivors include his children, Ann Hoskins and husband Tom of Blanket, Texas, Gail Kincaid and husband Gene of Austin, Richard Donaldson and wife Nancy of Austin, Jill Donaldson of Dallas, Evelyn Johnson of New Zealand (adopted daughter and AFS student); grandchildren: Joe Montgomery, Laura Kincaid, and Uma Wilson and husband Shannon, all of Austin, and Prabha Donaldson of India; and a great grandson, Vishak Wilson, of Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Texas Tech Alumni, Pampa Scholarship Fund, c/o Janyth Bowers, 11930 W. Ragsdale Road, Pampa, Texas 79065, Pampa Habitat for Humanity, 736 S. Cuyler, Pampa, Texas 79065, or First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1981, Pampa, Texas 79066-1981.