Wilber Donaldson

Wilber Donaldson of Enterprise passed away Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, at the family residence following a brief illness. He was 73. Graveside funeral services with full military honors will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, from Barrancas National Cemetery with a military chaplain officiating. The family will receive friends at Loves Way Church in Enterprise from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. The family will also receive friends on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Donnie Sowell Funeral Home in Milton, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to Covenant Hospice, 2855 Ross Clark Circle, Suite 110, Dothan, AL 36301, or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Mr. Donaldson was born Sept. 9, 1934, in Coffee County to the late Shelby and Lezzy Brannon Donaldson. He spent his formative years in Blountstown, Fla. At age 16, Wilber joined the U.S. Army and served with the 101st Airborne, 1st, 3rd and 5th Special Forces among others in both Korea and Vietnam before retiring in 1973. His second career was in Civil Service, from which he also retired working at the old Navy Hospital, Chief of Naval Education and Training and Saufley Field, all in Pensacola. He was a member of the Special Operations Association, Army Special Forces Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and ELKS. His easy-going nature, gentle actions and hearty laugh will be genuinely missed by his wife and best friend as well as those closest to him. She will cherish her memory of the many good times they shared and his constant happy and positive nature. In addition to his parents, a daughter, Sheila, sisters, Edith Horn and Betty McLemore, and a brother, Lavon, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Mary Catherine (Cathie) Parker Donaldson, Enterprise; sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Sebert Bowman of Macon, Ga.; son, Michael Shelby Donaldson; stepson, Anthony Steven Kwence (Virginia); grandchildren, Caitlin Beth and Connor Evan (their mother, Sue); uncle, Clayton Donaldson of Troy; aunt, Mattie Bell Brannon Redmon of Columbus, Ga.; sister-in-law, Linda B. Donaldson of Prattville; and much loved cousins, nieces and nephews. Sorrells Funeral Home of Enterprise, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements.