More detail on this person: Colonel William M. McDonald Colonel William M. McDonald, 79, died Saturday, November 10 at Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins. Services will be held at 10:00am, Wednesday, November 14 at the Robins Air Force Base Chapel with interment following in Andersonville National Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 7:00 until 9:00pm at McCullough Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 301 Mulberry Street, Suite 201, Macon, GA 31201. Colonel McDonald, a native of Ledyard, Iowa, was a 33-year veteran who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. As a Command Pilot, he logged over 10,000 hours in a variety of aircraft ranging from the B-17 to the C-141. Most of his career was focused on Air Rescue and Recovery PBY/Amphibious aircraft and all types of helicopters including the H-60 and HH-53 ''Jolly Green Giant.'' Col. McDonald flew in the Berlin airlift, combat rescue missions in Korea, supported rescue and recovery efforts for our space program. He served as a Squadron Commander and Wing Commander as well as in key staff positions throughout his distinguished career. He came to Robins AFB in 1971 as Chief of Helicopter and Utility Aircraft Systems, Director of Materiel Management. Since his retirement from the Air Force in 1975 he provided financial planning and insurance services through his own business, Cornerstone Financial and later, McDonald Insurance. He was an active member of the Peachbelt Underwriters Association and the Noon Optimist Club. For over 10-years he served as the director of the Robins AFB Retiree Activities Volunteer Office (BRAVO) and the Southeast Region. He was an active leader in Our Lady of the Skies Catholic Parish on Robins AFB. He loved his God, his family and his country and served all with great distinction. He will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Ella McDonald; son, William Thomas McDonald; sister, Mary McNerney; brother, Joe McDonald and two granddaughters, Jennifer Ivey and Kimberly Perkins. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn McDonald; daughters, Becky Ivey, Warner Robins; Sue Lowry, Columbus, MS; Patricia Power, Atlanta; Donna Perkins, Plattsburgh, NY; Dorothy Troyer, Chickamauga, GA; sons, Mike McDonald, Warner Robins; James McDonald, Dalton, GA; daughter, Jackie Ogden, Atlanta; son, Maj. Robert McDonald, Spangdahlem AB Germany; daughter, Mary McDonald, Houston, TX; sisters, Doris Drake, Beaverton, OR; Rose Marie Gelhouse, and Patty Jorgensen, both of Ledyard, IA; brother, Dennis McDonald, Des Moines, IA; brother, Jim McDonald, Long Beach, CA; sister, Ellen Kennedy, Dyersville, IA; brother, Frank McDonald, Odessa, FL; 16 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Burial information: Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville Historic Site
This information was last updated 07/12/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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