Carl Donaldson

Our beloved son, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, Carl Joseph Donaldson was called to his eternal home 24th July 2025.
Carl was born in Plattsburgh, New York, on the 5th of February in 1978, and with his Mom, Jane (Schoenholtz) Donaldson and Father, Charles E. Donaldson, spent his childhood growing up in Wichita Falls, Texas, Lawton, Oklahoma, Farmington, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona, and Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.
His 10 years at Dugway Proving Ground proved to be the most defining and influential years of his childhood, and Carl would maintain a close relationship with many of his Dugway friends right up to his death.
Carl graduated from Dugway High School in 1996 and enlisted in the Marine Corps where he completed diesel mechanics school and was assigned to motor pool operations at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
After his enlistment in the Marine Corps, Carl returned to Utah where he was close to family and friends, and he would work as a mechanic until the pull of his childhood dream of driving big trucks would alter the remaining course of his life.
Since Carl was old enough to walk, his favorite toys were his trucks and cars. As a child, Carl's favorite song was Alabama's song "Roll On" (Eighteen Wheeler), and he sang it over and over. Carl started his trucking career by driving dump trucks and operating heavy equipment for several construction companies around the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
In 2007, Carl would leave the Salt Lake City area to settle in Copperhill, Tennessee, allowing him to be near his parents in Mineral Bluff, Georgia. Carl drove trucks for several local companies and was eventually employed by Sun Transportation Systems USA, LLC, a division of an international trucking company. Along the way, Carl was constantly learning everything he could about operating a successful trucking business.
Carl met the love of his life, Tonya (Queen) Donaldson, in 2010. Carl and Tonya married in 2014, and together they would continue to build a reputation of experience, knowledge and dependability in the trucking industry. They would work together team driving cross country or both driving the same route separated only by hours while meeting up at preplanned locations and always home together.
They left Copperhill in 2022 and temporarily relocated to Jacksonville, Florida. Shortly after that relocation, Carl was selected to open, operate and manage a new truck facility in Dallas, Texas, for Sun Transportation Systems USA, LLC. He and the company would eventually build a fleet of 82 trucks, and growing, operating out of that Dallas facility with Carl managing the daily operation and ensuring that all the drivers complied with company policies as well as DOT and OSHA regulations.
Carl had a deeply generous and compassionate heart and an enormous capacity to see the best in those that just needed an unbiased and equal opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. He often purchased meals, gave money and provided a safe place to rest to those in need. Most of all he offered respect and understanding along with accountability and responsibility. He deeply believed that everyone needed an opportunity to participate in society.
At the time of his death, Carl was doing what he as a Safety Manager needed to do for the safety of the public as well as protecting the legal liabilities of Sun Transportation Systems USA, LLC.
Carl is survived by his partner in life and devoted wife, Tonya; four daughters, Edona, Hope, Kassidi and Alana; his parents, Charles and Jane; grandparent, Dorothy; three step daughters, Ashlee, Sabrina and Danielle and step granddaughters, Aida and Emylee.
Carl's wishes were to be an organ donor in order to help others live a better life and to have his earthly body cremated. Those wishes have been carried out.
A celebration of life will be held at a date yet to be determined.