Obituary
Guest Book
Robert Greer Donaldson, age 91, died on December 2025 in Petaluma, California.
Robert was born in February of 1934, in Ventura, California, to Emma Lou Donaldson and Robert Donaldson.
He attended schools in Santa Barbara and Ventura Senior High School and. Ventura City College with a 3.95 GPA and received a scholarship to the Don Martin School of Radio, Television, Arts & Sciences in Hollywood, California. He earned a commercial NABER certification, a General Radiotelephone License, and a Radio Telephone First Class License.
Robert worked for General Telephone in Oxnard, Ca performing equipment installation and maintenance and later was promoted to General Telephones’s personnel headquarters in Santa Monica. He then worked as a Data Control Wire Chief for Southern Pacific Railroad at 1 Market Street in San Francisco until he retired .He also operated an amateur radio station (HAM radio) and loved discovering and working on computer technology as it emerged.
Robert served in the Navy “Seabees” (Construction Battalion) as Honor Man and Chief Petty Officer from 1955 to 1957 and was honorably discharged.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Norma, and his daughters, Kathleen, Elizabeth, and Danielle. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Desiree, and great-grandson, Kieran; his nieces, Christina and Elisa; his great-niece, Lauren; his great-nephews, Colin and Sean; and his great-great-nephew, Shayden.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emma Lou and Robert Donaldson, and by his sister, Beverly.
He will be remembered as a passionately intellectual man. While introverted, he prided himself on his beliefs, standards, demeanor, image, and knowledge.
Private ash-scattering will be held by various family members at a later date.
View All Photos
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
850 Keokuk Street FD12 CR91, Petaluma, CA 94952

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more