Barbara Rando

Barbara Rando, age 93 of Amarillo, finished her final marathon on earth and ran to Heaven on July 13, 2025.

Barbara was born on February 22, 1932, in Washington, DC, to her parents, Paul and Ilene Donaldson. She graduated from high school and went on to college at Temple College. Barbara worked as an estate planner and an accountant.

In September of 1951, Barbara married Anthony Rando in Atlantic City, New Jersey. For the next seventy-three years, the couple would share countless adventures together.

That same year, Barbara began her lifelong passion for running. Over the decades, she competed in numerous races, including eight New York City Marathons. In 2011, at the age of 80, she ran the NYC Marathon for the final time. During the race, she fell and broke her wrist. When paramedics arrived to assist her, she told them, “I’ll see you at the finish line”—and that’s exactly what she did. Barbara completed the marathon before being taken to the hospital for her injuries.

She was also instrumental in founding Amarillo’s first running club, The Monkey Business Gang.

Though Barbara loved running, she may have loved playing golf even more. She was an active member of both the Amarillo Country Club—where she served for many years as treasurer of the women’s golf league—and the Tascosa Country Club. She and Tony traveled the world together playing golf, visiting some of the most prestigious courses in Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska, and even the historic St. Andrews Course in Scotland, known as the “Home of Golf.” For her 90th birthday, her nephew Raymond flew her and Tony to Cabo San Jose to celebrate and, of course, play a few rounds.

Barbara was an exceptional athlete and remained active throughout her life. Just days before her passing, she had an intense workout at the Town Club, hosted her book club, and even exercised on the treadmill just hours before she died.

She was a dynamic individual, full of life, with a competitive spirit and a deep love for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Nancy Beasley and Joan Schilling; and two brothers, Richard and Paul Donaldson.

Barbara is survived by her husband of seventy-three years, Anthony “Tony” Rando of Amarillo; her niece, Suzanne Green of Amarillo; her nephews, Richard Donaldson and wife, Parie of Wills Point and Raymond Donaldson of Amarillo; and great nieces, Darby Thomas Donaldson and her husband, Matthew, Nishi McAffee and her husband, Patrick; and Synclair Downey and her husband, Jordan.