Donna L. Huth

Donna Lee Huth (Goldinger) was born on 9 June 1946 in Akron, Ohio to parents Thomas William Goldinger and Edna Naomi Shane. Her older sister Dolores (Daisy) Jane Goldinger, who also passed away on August 11th, was her best friend and confidant throughout life. 

Donna is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas (Gus) and Edna (Mag) Goldinger, and survived by her husband, Bill Huth, daughter and son-in-law, Melissa (Huth) Hatchett and Joe Hatchett, son Scott Huth, and granddaughter and husband Babette and Levi Schom (who are expecting their first baby in two weeks), and nephew and wife Ed and Kristi Goldinger. 

From a young age, Donna was passionate about all animals, but she especially loved dogs. She dedicated a good portion of her youth and adulthood to raising, grooming and showing them, and had a special penchant for collies and schnauzers. Donna never had a day in her life without at least one dog in the family. In her later years, Donna would spend hours online looking at rescue sites and ended up rescuing multiple dogs from kill shelters.

Donna loved her family deeply and devoted much of her life to being the best homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter she could be. She never let advanced rheumatoid arthritis keep her from fulfilling these duties. Though she was often in considerable pain, she rarely complained and preferred to offer care and advice to others than dwell on her own condition. There was rarely a day that she didn’t have dinner on the table for the family after Bill got off work. Donna and Bill loved and protected each other fiercely for 56 years. 

Donna took pride in being an excellent caregiver when others were sick, even caring for her own mother in her final days, moving a hospital bed into her dining room. She was a great therapist, confidant and friend to those who were lucky enough to know her closely. If you were one of the lucky ones, you know that she could always throw out a dry, witty joke that we’d all be talking about and repeating for days to come. In fact, quite a few of Donna’s observations and musings have become family inside jokes. 

Through all of her relationships, Donna and Daisy (her sister) shared a special bond. They died on the same day in different places and without speaking to each other (or knowing the other died). This is a story of true sisterhood, love, family, and loyalty. Though they will both be missed more than words could ever express, the family takes comfort in knowing they have made this transition together.