Evelyn F. Donaldson
Evelyn F. Donaldson, 90, of Clarion, formerly of Clintonville, Pa., died Wednesday at her home.
Born March 6, 1925, in Clintonville, she was the daughter of the late Leroy and Doris Sweetapple Hoffman.
She was married May 29, 1943, to Leslie D. Donaldson, also of Clintonville. They were married for 55 years.
Evelyn graduated from Clintonville High School. She also attended the Beauty Academy in Pittsburgh.
Mrs. Donaldson worked as a beautician in the mid-'40s through the early '50s. At this time she took a position at Wall Mfg in Grove City, where they manufactured soldering irons and blow torches. When Wall made a decision to move to Kinston, N.C., Evelyn moved there to set up the entire assembly line. She completed her career as a foreman with Wall in 1966.
At this time, her husband, Leslie Donaldson, who worked for Cooper Cameron in Grove City from 1951 to 1966, took a field service technician position, which took him and Evelyn to various parts of the world, such as Alaska, New Orleans, Kuwait, Peru, Pakistan and Nigeria. Mrs. Donaldson toured the world around her husband's travels.
Evelyn was a former member of the Union Presbyterian Church in Clintonville. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Parker Chapter 56, Ladies Auxiliary Clarion American Legion Post 66, past member of the Rebecca's in Emlenton and a member of the Clarion Red Hatters.
As a girl, she played basketball at Clintonville High School. She began camping on the Clarion River in the late '40s. This grew into a “love of river life.” At every chance, Les and Evelyn would return to the good old Clarion River and their numerous river friends.
When Les retired they purchased a camp and turned it into a wonderful home. In the '80s, Evelyn became involved with a wonderful group of friends in the area to play endless bridge.
One never dared to schedule anything else when a game of bridge was scheduled. She also became very much involved with the Clarion Senior Center, where she became friends with a group of ladies and gentlemen. She could not wait to join them on a daily basis for exercise, lunches and day trips.
She is survived by her son, Leslie D. (Corky) Donaldson and his wife, Christine, of Butler; four grandchildren, Angela Snyder of Brookville and her husband, Dave, Mrs. Wendy Merrill of Beaufort, N.C., and her husband, Ralph, Ms. Tammy Ridge of Largo, Fla., and Mrs. Channing Kline of Butler and her husband, Robert.
She also is survived by 11 great-grandchildren, Tony Polatty, Kelly and Gavin Huntsberry, Christopher Hansford, Raelie and Sophia Ridge, Kylie and Keegan Bracken, Tyler, Daniel and Andrew Kline; two great-great-grandchildren, Lilly and Michael; and several nieces and nephews.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leslie; her sister, Erma Hitzman; her infant brother, Harry Albert Hoffman; and her great-granddaughter, Emily Ridge.
DONALDSON — Visitation for Evelyn F. Donaldson, who died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home, 109 Emlenton St., Clintonville.Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.The Rev. Gary Donaldson of Waterford, Pa., will officiate.Interment will be at the Clintonville Methodist Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clarion County VNA Hospice, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion, PA 16214.For more information, visit www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net.
