Roy Lavern Donaldson
June 30, 1918 — February 15, 2010
Roy Lavern Donaldson, of Eureka, died on Monday, February 15, 2010, at the Eureka Nursing Center in the Eureka, at the age of 91.
He was born on June 30, 1918, in Eureka, the youngest of nine children to Otto Leroy and Maude Bell (Grubb) Donaldson. He attended Eureka High School where he set the state track record in the half mile and anchored the distance medley to a gold medal in the 1938 K.U. Relays. Roy received a full scholarship for track at Wichita State University where he lettered every year in track. He graduated with a B.A. in Education.
Roy served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific and receiving an honorable discharge. He married Frances J. Morgan of Fort Scott on February 8, 1940. They were together for 54 years. She preceded him in death on November 21, 1994.
After teaching high school in Great Bend, and Derby, and coaching, Roy spent the next 20 years travelling for Wyandotte Chemicals and for Reid Supply Co. covering the state of Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. He later went into partnership for 2 Shakey’s Pizza Parlor franchises, a Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream franchise, and an Arby’s Roast Beef franchise working as C.E.O. of Cal-Kan, Inc. They prospered and Roy was able to retire at age 52.
Roy was a member of the Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion.
He is survived by two sons, Jim and wife, Beth Donaldson of Tiffin, Ohio; and Fred Donaldson of Wichita; three grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He loved his great-grandchildren and was so proud of their athletic accomplishments.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Reverend Diana Hill of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Friday, February 19, at Koup Family Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Eureka High School Athletics Club. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
He was born on June 30, 1918, in Eureka, the youngest of nine children to Otto Leroy and Maude Bell (Grubb) Donaldson. He attended Eureka High School where he set the state track record in the half mile and anchored the distance medley to a gold medal in the 1938 K.U. Relays. Roy received a full scholarship for track at Wichita State University where he lettered every year in track. He graduated with a B.A. in Education.
Roy served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific and receiving an honorable discharge. He married Frances J. Morgan of Fort Scott on February 8, 1940. They were together for 54 years. She preceded him in death on November 21, 1994.
After teaching high school in Great Bend, and Derby, and coaching, Roy spent the next 20 years travelling for Wyandotte Chemicals and for Reid Supply Co. covering the state of Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. He later went into partnership for 2 Shakey’s Pizza Parlor franchises, a Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream franchise, and an Arby’s Roast Beef franchise working as C.E.O. of Cal-Kan, Inc. They prospered and Roy was able to retire at age 52.
Roy was a member of the Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion.
He is survived by two sons, Jim and wife, Beth Donaldson of Tiffin, Ohio; and Fred Donaldson of Wichita; three grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He loved his great-grandchildren and was so proud of their athletic accomplishments.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Reverend Diana Hill of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Friday, February 19, at Koup Family Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Eureka High School Athletics Club. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
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