11/29/2025
Donna Joyce Donaldson
In Loving Memory ofDonna Joyce DonaldsonApril 14, 1933 - November 28, 2025
We invite you to join us honoring Donna's life on this dedicated webpage. Your condolences, stories, videos and pictures will be cherished by the family and provide comfort during this difficult time.
Donna Joyce Donaldson, 92, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on April 14, 1933, in Charlevoix, Michigan, Donna dedicated her life to family. Her warmth and devotion left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
On May 27, 1961, Donna married the love of her life, Chuck Donaldson. Donna and Chuck became friends as small children growing up and attending school together in Charlevoix. After they were married, they lived where Chuck’s career took them: Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, Colorado and back to Maryland where they finally settled for good in Laurel. When the first grandchild came along, Donna and Chuck became known as Mimi and Ike. In their golden years, they traveled the world and spent time with the family they cherished.
Donna is lovingly remembered by her husband of 64 years, Charles Otto Donaldson; daughters Stephanie Donaldson Ostwald and Jennifer Donaldson Salazar; sons-in-law Erich Ostwald and Victor Salazar; grandchildren Jeremy Reed O’Dell (and his fiancée Alicia Knuppel), Jacob Dalton O’Dell (and his wife Carla), Sean Tristen O’Dell (and his wife Bethany), Marion Ostwald Lawlor (and her husband Bryan), Emily Donna Schmidt (and her fiancé Nicholas Baccete), Jessica Lindsey Schmidt, Alexandra Schmidt Willard, Jeremy Christian Salazar, and Jared Christopher Salazar. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren Novella O’Dell, Ellie O’Dell, Zoey O’Dell, Taylor Kephart, and Benjamin Willard.
She was preceded in death by her brother Chalmer Arnold Reed; mother Clara Alice Hamilton Kane; stepfather Milo Kane; father Dalton C. Reed; and grandmother Dora Hamilton whom she loved dearly.
Donna was a homemaker, a Girl Scout Leader and an awesome wife, mom and grandma. She was an active member of the Ladies of the Elks, where she had many friends and participated in everything from fashion shows to family day picnics.
Donna found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved reading, watching tennis and football, bowling, fishing, playing games like Canasta and Rumikub with family and friends and going to the movies. She had a knack for arranging flowers, was an avid bird watcher and collected birdhouses. Donna loved hosting parties at the holidays and fun “treasure hunt” birthday parties for her grandkids. On summer afternoons Donna could be found in the sun at the neighborhood pool, swimming and chatting with friends. Each day at 5 p.m. she had a date with Chuck at the home bar for Happy Hour before dinner. Her vibrant spirit and love for life will be deeply missed.
May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.
Care Entrusted toBeltway Cremation Center124 E. Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-5009240-246-0400www.BeltwayCremationCenter.com
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