James
James Edward Mcdonald
d. December 8, 2017
James Edward, 88, of Forest, VA, died suddenly Dec. 9, 2017. Jim was born Aug. 29, 1929 in Amsterdam, NY, to Arthur R. McDonald and Irene Bowman McDonald. He was predecessor by his wife Marilyn Carlson McDonald, sister Marjorie Bobilin and brothers Arthur R. “Bud” McDonald Jr. and George McDonald.
Jim is survived by sons James E. McDonald Jr. (Carole) of Phoenix, AZ, David M. McDonald (Kristin) of Weston CT, and Steven W. McDonald (Kelly) of Maumelle, AR. He is also survived by stepchildren Robert A. Warren (Patrice) of Highland Village, TX, James D. Warren (Melody) of Roanoke and Susan W. Head of Madison Heights. In addition, he is survived by 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren and his former wife, Gloria Colucciello McDonald or Lynchburg, who is the mother of his two oldest sons.
Jim was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and before that Holy Cross Catholic Church (and active in the Holy Cross School athletic program where he coached and served on the Athletic Committee). He worked 40 years for General Electric, beginning in 1951 in Schenectady, NY, and then in Pittsfield, MA, Everett, MA, Lynchburg, VA, and Florence, SC. He held a number of managerial positions in Lynchburg, where he spent most of his career, and Florence and was instrumental in the construction and startup of the Florence plant.
A 1948 graduate of St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam, he later attended Siena College and served in the U.S. Air Force. He was an accomplished golfer and especially enjoyed playing in leagues at Ivy Hill in Forest. In his earlier years, he was an avid bowler and boatsman (spending many summers at Buggs Island Lake) and enjoyed all sports. Interestingly, he was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. He enjoyed card and dice games of all types and played most in the winters when he and Marilyn spent extensive time in Hilton Head, SC, where they made many close friends. He enjoyed all Virginia Tech sports, especially after several of his children and grandchildren became Hokies.
Jim was an amazing father and grandfather. He coached his sons in baseball and basketball and taught them golf at an early age and particularly enjoyed his grandchildren and was proud of their varied accomplishments.
Services are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 Langhorne Road in Lynchburg. Contributions can be made in Jim’s name to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or Virginia Tech.
Jim is survived by sons James E. McDonald Jr. (Carole) of Phoenix, AZ, David M. McDonald (Kristin) of Weston CT, and Steven W. McDonald (Kelly) of Maumelle, AR. He is also survived by stepchildren Robert A. Warren (Patrice) of Highland Village, TX, James D. Warren (Melody) of Roanoke and Susan W. Head of Madison Heights. In addition, he is survived by 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren and his former wife, Gloria Colucciello McDonald or Lynchburg, who is the mother of his two oldest sons.
Jim was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and before that Holy Cross Catholic Church (and active in the Holy Cross School athletic program where he coached and served on the Athletic Committee). He worked 40 years for General Electric, beginning in 1951 in Schenectady, NY, and then in Pittsfield, MA, Everett, MA, Lynchburg, VA, and Florence, SC. He held a number of managerial positions in Lynchburg, where he spent most of his career, and Florence and was instrumental in the construction and startup of the Florence plant.
A 1948 graduate of St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam, he later attended Siena College and served in the U.S. Air Force. He was an accomplished golfer and especially enjoyed playing in leagues at Ivy Hill in Forest. In his earlier years, he was an avid bowler and boatsman (spending many summers at Buggs Island Lake) and enjoyed all sports. Interestingly, he was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. He enjoyed card and dice games of all types and played most in the winters when he and Marilyn spent extensive time in Hilton Head, SC, where they made many close friends. He enjoyed all Virginia Tech sports, especially after several of his children and grandchildren became Hokies.
Jim was an amazing father and grandfather. He coached his sons in baseball and basketball and taught them golf at an early age and particularly enjoyed his grandchildren and was proud of their varied accomplishments.
Services are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 Langhorne Road in Lynchburg. Contributions can be made in Jim’s name to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or Virginia Tech.
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