Thomas David McDonald Sr.

Dr. Thomas David McDonald Sr., 83, of Grundy, Va., passed away at his home on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Born in Roanoke, Va., he was the son of the late Furman Leon and Effie Jeanette Taylor McDonald. He was a 1943 graduate of Jefferson Senior High School, a 1949 graduate of Roanoke College majoring in Pre-Med and a 1953 graduate of the University of Virginia Medical School. He worked at the Roanoke Memorial and Crippled Children's Hospital for his Internship from July 1953 to 1954 rotating with emphasis on Pediatrics. His Residency was at Grundy Hospital from August 1954 to 1960 in Pediatrics; from 1960 to 1968 in Family Practice and from 1954 to 1968 in the Emergency Room. He was the former chief of Pediatrics at Grundy Hospital from 1954 to 1964; had his Pediatric Practice at the Edgewater Clinic from 1964 to 1968 and Family Practice at the Grundy Hospital from 1968 to 1984. He worked at the Buchanan General Hospital from 1984 until his retirement in 1997. He also served Buchanan County for several years as Medical Examiner. Dr. "Mac" as he was affectionately called, participated in the White House Conference on Nutrition. He was Chairman of the Appalachian Review Commission; Board Member for Health Systems Agency. He was Chairman of Project Review Commission HBS; Cumberland Mental Health Board of Directors and Chairman for two terms. He was Scoutmaster for B.S.A. Troop 48 from 1954 to 1968 having received the Scoutmasters Key, the Silver Beaver award, the Vigil Honor in the Tomahaken Lodge and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was a past member of the Lions Club, Chairman (CME) Grundy Hospital Inc., Team Physician for the Football and Wrestling teams at Grundy Senior High School. He served as Ring Physician for the Grundy Boxing Club; was a member of the New Mountain Players Theater and Lecturer in Physiology at Clinch Valley College.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for "Personalities of the South"; received the AMA Physician Recognition Award. His publications included "Infant Mortality of S. W. VA., "White House Conference on Nutrition; "Iron Deficiency Anemia" White House Conference on Nutrition; Familial Pheochromatocytoma Medicine 1979; Localized Scleroderma Journal Dermatology and the Effects of School Breakfast & Lunch Program Congressional Record.
Dr. McDonald was a member of the Grundy Methodist Church Board of Visitors.
Dr. McDonald Honorably served his country during World War II from 1943 to 1946 in the United States Navy serving in the PacificTheatre.
Dr. McDonald is survived by one daughter, Mary Ellen McDonald and her husband, Drew Harmon of Roanoke, Va.; one sister, Jeanette McDonald Hatcher, of Roanoke, Va.; three grandchildren, Ellen Harmon, Andrew Harmon and Daniel Harmon, all of Roanoke, Va. He is also survived by six nieces and four nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Belle Smallwood McDonald on August 20, 1969; one daughter, Virginia Ann McDonald on February 2, 1971; one son, Thomas David McDonald Jr. on April 17, 2010; two brothers, Furman Leon McDonald Jr. and his wife, Faye McDonald, and Thomas Allen McDonald.
Funeral services for Dr. Thomas David McDonald will be conducted 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, 2010, at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lee Upchurch officiating with burial to follow in the Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va.
Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel after 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2010.
Full Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of the Childs Gentry Post #7360 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Active pallbearers will be members of the Childs Gentry Post #7360.