Larry Eugene Donaldson

Larry Eugene Donaldson, 76, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away on November 8, 2018 in Durham.

Larry was born in Butler, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1942. He grew up in Renfrew, Pennsylvania and graduated from Butler Senior High School.

Larry is lovingly remembered by his wife of 14 years, Chi Vu Donaldson, whom he married on March 11, 2004 in San Jose, California.

He is survived by his wife Chi, his children and their mother, Evelyn Donaldson; children – Rebecca Jane Anderson and husband, Dave, and children, Jessica Lynn Donaldson Rivera and husband, Vincent, Sarah Donaldson, Kelcie, Molly and Ryan Anderson; Melanie Donaldson Nixon and husband, Chris, and children, Blake and Claire; Jeanette Donaldson Stansbury, Charles D Stansbury III (Chad), and their son, Charles T. Stansbury; Jason Thomas (J.T.) Donaldson; Larry’s sister, Norma Jean Noto, and brothers Kenneth and Gerald Donaldson. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Homer Lee Donaldson and Vera Hosey Donaldson.

Larry was retired from I.B.M. after a notable career that spanned 42 years of continuous service across multiple corporate sites. He was widely respected for the technical and managerial expertise that he contributed to a broad array of hardware and software programs. Prior to starting his corporate career, Larry served in the Navy for four years following his enlistment in Butler, Pennsylvania on April 19, 1961. He received top scholastic honors in March 1962 upon his graduation from the Avionics Fundamentals School where he studied electronic theory and equipment. He was honorably released from active duty at Fighter Squadron 101, U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida on April 16, 1965 at the rank of AQF2 (E-5).

Larry loved spending time with family, reading novels, telling stories from his youth in Renfrew, baking, gardening, tinkering with gadgets, making repairs & renovations, wrestling with advanced-level Sudoku puzzles, winning at Scrabble with friends, winning bets with Chi, watching sports, especially his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, being extremely generous and kind to friends and family. He also coached his daughters’ softball and basketball teams at Oak Grove Athletic Association for many years.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home, 211 S. Miami Blvd. Durham, NC 27703.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Hudson Funeral Home Chapel, 211 S. Miami Blvd. Durham, NC 27703. Cremation will follow.

As an expression of sympathy and alternative to flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the follow charitable organizations:
1. Cancer Research Organization. https://www.cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate/one-time-donation
2. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/overview/contributing#1
3. St Jude’s Children’s Cancer Research Fund. https://www.stjude.org/give.html
4. American Cancer Society. https://donate3.cancer.org/
5. Duke Cancer Institute https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dci?technique_code=CCCWBDON
6. Vietnam Healing Foundation nonprofit organization that provides assistance to disabled veterans and their families. https://thevhf.org/

The Family wishes to extend our sincere gratitude to the amazing staff at the Duke University Hospital, the Duke Cancer Center, the Duke University Urgent Care clinics, and the Triangle Family Practice who supported Larry and contributed to his care during his battle with cancer.