William Alexander DONALDSON Sr.

04/18/1944 - 01/12/2015

DONALDSON, William Alexander, Sr. April 18, 1944 - January 12, 2015 William was born in Portland, OR, moved to Seattle, WA when he was one and was raised there. He grew up with two sisters and two brothers: Sheril, (Tom Coad), Patricia, (deceased) Donald (Jan) and Robert (Roxanne). He attended West Seattle High School, joined the U.S. Navy Reserves when he was 17, a year later he went Active Duty. William earned the rank of Shipserviceman 3rd Class and received the Navy Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Medal and the American Service Medal. He was Honorably Discharged four years later in 1966. William began his working career for the Federal Government that same year, beginning at the U.S. Public Health Hospital in Seattle; with the Post Office at Sea-Tac Airport; and then as a warehouseman for GSA. He transferred to Spokane, WA in 1971 then went to work for the Spokane Veterans Administration Medical Hospital, where he was selected as a Supervisor in Building Management. He retired from the V.A. in 2001 after serving more than 37 years for the Government. From 2001 to 2006 he worked for Cardinal Health, Spokane, WA. William was married to Vicky Fetch for nine years; a two year marriage to Charlene Hollenbeck (now deceased) then met and married Judy Curran. This marriage produced his two wonderful sons, William A. Donaldson, Jr. (Laura Brown) and James Michael Donaldson (Cailene). His sons were a constant source of pride and joy in his life. He was a stepfather to Doug, Gary and John Brown (Judy's sons from a previous marriage). That marriage ended in 1987. He joined "Big Brothers and Sisters of America" and was proud of his "Little Brother" Lance Anders. He then met the "love of his life" Kathleen M. Mahoney in 1998. They married in 2001. Her children are Bridget, Colleen, Kathleen, Matthew and Patricia. One of his dreams in life was to go to the Sturgis, S.D. Motorcycle Rally. That dream became a reality in 1999. He rode and Kathleen "had his back" - all the way! William was proud to be an American, proud to be an Eagle Member and served as Worthy Past President of the Spokane Aries Lodge in 1978 and was also proud of being a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and his accomplishment of becoming a Shriner in 1999, something instilled in him by his late stepfather Collin "Bob" Gibb. In an effort to allow all his family to attend, Services will be held on April 17, 2015. An Honor Guard Service will be held at the Medical Lake Veterans Cemetery at 11:15 a.m. and a celebration of his life will follow at the Eagles Lodge in Spokane the same day. Another notice will be posted a week prior to services as a reminder to any friends who wish to attend. William was a wonderful man. To try to capture 70 years in 500 words does not do him justice. He will be greatly missed.