Ralph Edmund Mcdonald
December 25, 1942 — October 28, 2017
Ralph Edmund McDonald, Jr, 74, of Columbus, GA, died Saturday, October 28, 2017 at his residence with his family at his side.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM, Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907 with Pastor Judy Hay officiating. Interment will be held in Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Mr. McDonald was born December 25, 1942 in Riverdale, MD, son of the late Ralph Edmund McDonald, Sr and Nida Belle Arbogast McDonald.
While serving in the Air Force as a ground equipment and gas engine repairman, Mr. McDonald was stationed in Germany where he met and married his wife, Renate. He then worked for IBM for 20 years as a customer engineer and transitioned to Eastman Kodak, where he continued working until his retirement.
Mr. McDonald was a lifelong recreational pilot, airframe and powerplant mechanic, and aviation enthusiast who also flew radio controlled airplanes. He was an all-around handyman who tackled any and every automobile, airplane or home project that presented itself, usually several at a time. For several years, he was also involved in Boy Scouts.
Despite all his accomplishments, his greatest source of pride was his family, especially his grandchildren.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Holly McDonald and his sister Peggy Atkinson.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Renate Kiosch McDonald; daughter, Molly Gibbo (Patrick) of Columbus, GA; son, Michel McDonald (Deana) of Catuala, GA, grandchildren, Tristan Gibbo of Columbus, GA, Meadow McDonald, Forest McDonald, Rowan McDonald and Willow McDonald all of Cataula, GA and a host of other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Chattahoochee Valley Chapter 677 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (www.677.eaachapter.org).
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM, Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907 with Pastor Judy Hay officiating. Interment will be held in Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Mr. McDonald was born December 25, 1942 in Riverdale, MD, son of the late Ralph Edmund McDonald, Sr and Nida Belle Arbogast McDonald.
While serving in the Air Force as a ground equipment and gas engine repairman, Mr. McDonald was stationed in Germany where he met and married his wife, Renate. He then worked for IBM for 20 years as a customer engineer and transitioned to Eastman Kodak, where he continued working until his retirement.
Mr. McDonald was a lifelong recreational pilot, airframe and powerplant mechanic, and aviation enthusiast who also flew radio controlled airplanes. He was an all-around handyman who tackled any and every automobile, airplane or home project that presented itself, usually several at a time. For several years, he was also involved in Boy Scouts.
Despite all his accomplishments, his greatest source of pride was his family, especially his grandchildren.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Holly McDonald and his sister Peggy Atkinson.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Renate Kiosch McDonald; daughter, Molly Gibbo (Patrick) of Columbus, GA; son, Michel McDonald (Deana) of Catuala, GA, grandchildren, Tristan Gibbo of Columbus, GA, Meadow McDonald, Forest McDonald, Rowan McDonald and Willow McDonald all of Cataula, GA and a host of other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Chattahoochee Valley Chapter 677 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (www.677.eaachapter.org).
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