Donald McDonald

Donald Hemphill McDonald, Jr., 87, died of complications of Alzheimer's Disease at Wisteria Assisted Living Facility Legacy Lane on November 21, 2025. He had lived at Wisteria for five and a half years.

Born in Abilene at Hendrick Memorial Hospital to Corrine Boyd McDonald and Dr. Donald McDonald on July 19, 1938, Donald lived a life of kindness, hard work, faith, and study. His life in Abilene was interrupted at the beginning of World War II when his father joined the Army Air Corps and began a journey across America as a flight surgeon. Dr. McDonald was accompanied by his wife and son to 14 different posts, beginning with his assignment in Stamford, Texas, and ending with duty in New York. Along the way, they lived in Ponca City, OK; Reno, NV; and Lakehurst, NJ. Donald loved traveling across the country. They stopped at every national park and important landmark, enhancing his interest in nature and history.

The family returned to Abilene after the war. Donald's strongest memory of that period was his gratitude that his father had survived and not been called to combat. The family enjoyed a unity during the war that framed Donald's life.

His parents and grandparents delighted in him and he had a happy childhood in spite of the war. Early on, his great uncle Don Weatherby introduced young Donald to golf, which became a lifelong passion.

After his graduation from Abilene High School in 1957, Donald's parents wisely guided him toward Southwestern University at Georgetown where he attained a BA in history and Latin (1961). Donald loved the school, his professors, and his days as a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He became the fraternity house manager, a challenging job that taught him thrift and useful skills. He remained in touch with his PKA brothers for the duration of their lives.

After college graduation, Donald joined the Air Force Reserve and trained to be a medic during the Vietnam war. He liked his training and the high level of fitness he achieved. He received an honorable discharge after brief active service. He never saw combat but served in Texas Air Force hospitals.

In 1962, he went to work as a stockbroker for George Leitner in Abilene. Throughout the ups and downs of the stock market, Donald persevered as a broker until his memory began to fail. He retired at 65 and began playing golf as often as he wanted at the Abilene Country Club, where he had played since he was a boy.

From the time he began his career in Abilene, Donald gave time to boards of numerous non-profit organizations.

W. Willis Cox involved Donald at the zoo. Donald's love for animals and nature made it a good match for him. He obtained textbooks used by professional zookeepers, learning everything he could about the animal collection at the zoo and others that they might acquire. He had many adventures going to zoo conferences and on field trips to capture some of the small (but sometimes dangerous) animals the zoo needed for their displays. His devotion to the Grover Nelson Park Zoological Gardens remained steadfast as he eventually exceeded fifty years of service on its board of directors. He served the zoo in many capacities--as the zoo society president and treasurer as well as treasurer of the Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation. He received the Lionhearted Award in 1988 for continuing outstanding contributions to Abilene Zoological Society and was recognized at a special dinner in 2016 for his 50 years of devoted service to the zoo.

Donald also loved his terms on the advisory board of the Taylor County Agrilife Extension Service. In addition, he was a loyal member of the Abilene Kiwanis Club.

Donald was confirmed as a member of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in 1962, having long admired the church, watching its construction and attending services with his young friends Vee Perini and Frank and Charles Scarborough, whose mothers were pillars at the church, and Harry and John Gerhart, whose father was an early rector at the church. Donald served on the church vestry, worked on the Every Member Canvass countless years, counted and deposited the church offerings the second Sunday of every month for decades, and bravely taught junior high boys' Sunday school classes. From 1962 until the year 2000, he was a devoted usher at the 8:00 a.m. service. He arrived at the church no later than 7:00 a.m. to be certain that the nave was ready for the service.

Although he had dyslexia, Donald became an avid reader. He collected and read hundreds of books, with his favorites being non-fiction. He always hoped to become proficient in Spanish. That did not happen, but languages intrigued him and led him to pore over dictionaries and etymology texts. For fun, he read complicated volumes about the Federal Reserve Board and other financial entities.

On December 18, 1971, Donald married Rebecca (Becky) Rawls at the Church of the Heavenly Rest. They fell in love shortly after their first date and married one year later.

By far his favorite person was their beloved daughter, Anne (now Anne McDonald-Tripp), born in 1975. Anne was an only child. Donald often said, "If you have the perfect child, why keep trying?"

Becky and Anne thank the Wisteria staff, particularly nurses Brenda Lindsey and Holly Mansur, the helpful aides, and also the delightful volunteers who play Bingo with the residents. In addition, thanks to nurse Jordan Lagunas, aides, and others at Kinder Hearts Hospice and to nurse Pam Bryan and social worker Peggy Shepherd from Hendrick Hospice.

If you wish to give a memorial in Donald's honor, please consider The Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation, 2070 Zoo Lane, Abilene, TX, 79602, or the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander Street, Abilene, TX, 79602

Donald is survived by his beloved wife of almost 54 years, his daughter and her husband, Tom Tripp, his little sister Emily Arnot and brother-in-law, the Hon. Retired Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, William G. (Bud) Arnot of Houston; nieces, nephews, and many cousins. His parents predeceased him.

A memorial service officiated by the Rev. David Romanik will be held on December 10th at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander Street, Abilene, TX, at 11:00 a.m. with a short reception in Gerhart Hall to follow. All are welcome.

Arrangements: The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Cremains will be inurned at a family service at the Heavenly Rest Columbarium.