Richard E. “Dick” McDonald, 85, of Waverly, Iowa, died on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, at the Vista Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center in Lewisville, Texas, following complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
A graveside ceremony with military graveside rites conducted by the American Legion Post #176 will be held in the Harlington Cemetery in Waverly on Saturday, Nov.15, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. A memorial service will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception in the church.
Dick, son of Fred and Hattie Maude Reynolds McDonald was born May 30, 1923, in Quasqueton, Iowa. He attended school in Quasqueton and Charles City. He worked at Fisher Wood Factory and Oliver Tractor in Charles City. On July 3, 1942, he married Betty Mae Stanton, his wife of 52 years until her death in 1994. On July 3, 1943, he joined the Army and was stationed at multiple installations, including San Diego, Fort Bliff, Texas and Fort Mead, Md., before being shipped overseas where he served in England and Iceland until his discharge in January 1946. Dick and his family moved to Waverly in 1947, where he was employed by the local Chevrolet dealership for 18 years, after which he worked at Koehring as an assembly supervisor until his retirement in 1986. After retiring, he worked part-time at the local Wal-Mart for 14 years. After a brief stay at The Meadows in Shell Rock, he moved to the Vista Ridge Nursing Home in Lewisville, Texas in October 2007.
Dick was active in the American Legion Post #176 and V.F.W. Post #2208. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Waverly.
Mr. McDonald was preceded in death by his wife, five brothers and five sisters. He is survived by his son, Dave and daughter-in-law Jean of Marietta, Ga.; his daughter Joyce (McDonald) Wubbena and son-in-law Larry of Coppell, Texas; three grandchildren, Todd Wubbena of Coppell, Texas, Stephanie (Wubbena) wife of Tom Blackwell of Carrollton, Texas, and Mike McDonald (married to Lesli Pace) of Monroe, La. His great grandchildren are Alex Wubbena, Anna and Patrick Blackwell, and Lilli McDonald. He is, also, survived by two brothers, Chet of Charles City and John of Delafield, Wis.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Iowa Chapter for American Parkinson’s Disease, P.O. Box 507, Waukee, Iowa 50263. Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly is assisting the family, (319) 352-1187. Online condolences for Dick may be left at www.kaiser-corson.com.