Robert R McDonald
(January 21, 1927 – September 19, 2008)
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Rev. David McHenry officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to Cornerstone Community Fellowship, American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.
Mr. McDonald was born on January 21, 1927 in Shelby County, Illinois, the son of Ira Roland and Golden Hoffman McDonald. He attended Ridge Elementary School and graduated from Westervelt High School in 1942. Bob served with the U.S. Army in the European Theater from 1945-1946 and the Korean War from 1950-1951. He married Lois Lucille Smith on October 17, 1948. He farmed for a few years, then worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service as a technician doing conservation for the Shelby Soil & Water District from 1958-1970. He then went to work for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Decatur, retiring on May 1, 1988. Bob was a former Little League Baseball coach and an avid sports fan, especially of Shelbyville High School sports. He enjoyed gardening, watching the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games and having coffee every morning and afternoon with his buddies at McDonalds. Bob and Lois were approaching their 60th wedding anniversary on October 17, 2008.
Surviving are his wife, Lois; son, Richard “Dick” McDonald and wife Tori of Camanche, IA; son-in-law, Jerry Turner of Shelbyville; granddaughters, Beth Ann McDonald and fiancé Justin Stigers of Shelbyville, Michelle Heidel and husband Brian of Decatur, and Chloe and Lia McDonald of Camanche, IA; grandsons, Andy McDonald and wife Jamie of Shelbyville and Matt Turner of Shelbyville; and great grandchildren, Taylor, Jhett, Gracey, Gradey, Drue, Drake and Kylee all of Shelbyville; sister-in-law, Dorothy McDonald of Camarillo, CA; niece, Cheryl; and nephew, Doug.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Robert McDonald in 2005; daughter, Diana Jane Turner in 2008; and brothers, Lewis “Mac” Edward McDonald in 1966 and James Roland McDonald in 1943.