Isaac B. McDonald

1931 - 2025

Isaac B. McDonald, born in Live Oak, Florida, on Dec. 30, 1931, died peacefully at home Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Meldred Young McDonald; and his father, Isaac B. McDonald Sr.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, JoAnn Ensslin McDonald; three sons, Paul Ensslin McDonald, Joseph Bryant McDonald (Leslie Hazelip McDonald) and Philip Anderson McDonald (Susan Horn McDonald); a brother, Ralph Sims Hardee, and his wife, Burma Sue Crews of Lake City, Florida; Five grandchildren, Adam Bryant McDonald (Tiffaney W. McDonald), John Tanner McDonald, Benjamin Anderson McDonald, Rachel Elizabeth McDonald and Emma Grace McDonald; and one great-grandson, Cash Everett McDonald.

Ike accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 14 and accepted the call to the ministry at age 16. He was ordained into the ministry on Jan. 17, 1951, by First Baptist Church, Lake City, Florida. After completing his studies at the University of Florida, he enrolled in the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, where he completed his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. His ministry included Shady Grove Baptist Church, Franklin, Kentucky; Calhoun Baptist Church, Calhoun, Kentucky; Lone Oak Baptist Church, Paducah, Kentucky; Ruhama Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama; and First Baptist Church, Hodgenville, Kentucky. After retiring from full-time ministry, he served as an interim pastor for several churches.

Outside of the ministry, Ike always was involved in his community. He served as team chaplin for the Banks High School football program. Birmingham, Alabama, and president of both Birmingham and Hodgenville Rotary Clubs where he was made a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served five terms on the State Executive Board of Kentucky Baptist Hospitals, two terms on the Board of Directors of Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, and two terms on the Board of Directors for the Western Recorder. Ike also mentored young students and pastors pursuing their Master and Doctorate degrees at Southern Baptist Seminary and Newburgh Baptist Theological Seminary, where he served as adjunct professor.

Ike was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He considered his greatest privilege and blessing to baptize all three of his sons, conduct the marriage ceremony for two sons as well as his first grandson, and baptize all five of his grandchildren. His greatest possessions were his Bible and his relationships with his Lord, family and friends.

We as a family feel so blessed to have called him ours. We know he was received by our Lord and Savior with welcome arms as he proclaimed "Well Done my Good and Faithful Servant."

The memorial service for Isaac McDonald will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at First Presbyterian Church in London, Kentucky, with Dr. Lawrence Phipps officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made to a church that Ike ministered or the church of your choice. Please send notifications of donations to 3030 Sublimity Springs Road, London KY 40744.

Honorary pallbearers are Adam Bryant McDonald, John Tanner McDonald, Benjamin Anderson McDonald, Rachel Elizabeth McDonald, Emma Grace McDonald and Cash Everett McDonald.