Angus Wheeler McDonald

Angus Wheeler McDonald, 98, of Charles Town, West Virginia, passed away peacefully at his home on November 18, 2025. Born April 21, 1927, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of John Yates McDonald and Dorothy Helen Bosworth McDonald.

Angus spent nearly his entire life in Charles Town at Orchard Lodge and Pleasant View Farm, the family's historic property that has been part of the McDonald heritage for more than two centuries. In his early farming years he studied agriculture at West Virginia University, and during that time he focused on poultry, raising chickens and delivering eggs to families and businesses in town. Over the decades the farm developed into a diversified operation including apples, cattle, and corn. Angus took great pride in tending land that connected generations of his family.

He served with the United States Army Signal Corps in Hawaii from 1946 to 1947. After returning home, he pursued his education at West Virginia University followed by Washington Adventist University, where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in business and religion. During these years Angus became a devoted Seventh-day Adventist, a faith that shaped his outlook and guided him for the rest of his life. He remained a lifelong member and supporter of the Charles Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he found community, purpose, and enduring fellowship.

Angus married Mary Joan Montgomery on May 8, 1952. They later divorced in 1958. He is survived by their two children, Mary Ann Hetzer and Paul Yates McDonald, as well as three grandchildren, Kelly Y. Packan, John Y. McDonald, and Julia E. McDonald. He was predeceased by his siblings, John Jack B. McDonald and Eleanora M. Worth.

Angus had an extraordinary and unconventional life in politics. A proud and persistent Democrat, he ran for President of the United States in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. He campaigned the way he believed politics ought to be done, in person, on the road, and directly with voters. He traveled the country by Greyhound bus, visiting small towns and out-of-the-way places, striking up conversations at cafés, laundromats, and courthouse steps. His message remained consistent, centered on the growing national debt and the responsibility owed to future generations.

In the 2000 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary, Angus received seven percent of the statewide vote despite appearing only on the West Virginia ballot. The Los Angeles Times, in a 1992 profile titled "White House Dream Is a Long Shot, But a Guy's Got to Try," portrayed him as a determined citizen-candidate, earnest in his convictions and undeterred by long odds. His plainspoken optimism, steady good humor, and genuine willingness to listen left lasting impressions on those he met along the way.

Beyond politics and farming, Angus had an enduring love of travel and exploration. He visited all fifty states, often choosing to travel by Greyhound bus because it allowed him to meet people, see the countryside, and experience the country on a personal level. His adventures included voyages to both the North and South Poles and several around the world cruises aboard the Queen Elizabeth. His curiosity about the world never dimmed, and he approached each journey with the same enthusiasm he brought to every aspect of his life.

He will also be remembered throughout Charles Town for his personal kindness. Angus had a generous and thoughtful spirit, and he quietly supported many people who were in greater need than himself. Every Christmas he sent flowers or boxes of oranges to friends and neighbors, small acts of goodwill that reflected both his faith and his gentle character.

Angus will be remembered as a gentle and thoughtful man with a quiet wit, a deep sense of history, and a steadfast belief that one person, acting with sincerity and purpose, could make a difference. His life, rooted in faith, family, and the soil of West Virginia, touched many more people than he ever imagined.

A service honoring his life will be held at the Charles Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7869 Summit Point Road, Charles Town, WV 25414 with Pastor Jason Disch officiating on Monday, December 1, at 10:00 a.m., followed by burial at Edge Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Angus Wheeler McDonald Scholarship Fund at Washington Adventist University, 7600 Flower Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912.

Arrangements are by the Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Ranson, WV.

Please sign his online guestbook at www.mtstrider.com