Dr. Ronald Jack Donaldson

Services for Dr. Ronald Jack Donaldson, 78, of Tyler, Texas and Hound Ears Club, North Carolina, will be held on Wednesday, June 10th at 11:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church of Tyler with Reverend Stuart Baskin and Reverend Pamela Leach officiating under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Ron passed away Thursday, June 4th at Twin Rivers Park, Boone, NC while fishing. He was born January 12th, 1937 in Springfield, MO to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Henry Donaldson. Ron was a member, trustee and elder of First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Founder of Tyler Neurosurgical Associates, Board Member of ETMC Regional Healthcare Systems, Board member of Willow Brook Country Club, member of Order of the Rose - Texas Rose Festival, and past Board Member of People’s National Bank. In 2010 The Ronald J. Donaldson, MD Neuroscience Symposium was established in his honor at East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare Systems. Ron graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, MO and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and the ROTC. Ron had a Distinguished Military Career and served as a Captain in the United States Army. While serving, in the Army, he was an agent for the Central Intelligence Agency and served his country while stationed in Tehran, Iran. He was honorably discharged from the Service after completing his tenure at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Ron attended the University of Oklahoma Medical School and Residency Program where was Chief Resident. Upon completion, Ron and his wife, Susan, and their four children moved to Tyler, Texas in 1972 and started Tyler Neurosurgical Associates. Ron was chief of Staff of East Texas Medical Center 1978-1979 and was President of Smith County Medical Society in 1985. Ron also established the East Texas Neurological Institute. Ron was preceded in death by his father Jack Henry Donaldson and his mother Ruby Marsh Donaldson. He is survived by his loving family including his wife, Susan Whitney Donaldson and their four children Sarah Donaldson Jacobi, Jack Whitney Donaldson, Sandra Donaldson Hipps and Julie Donaldson Moore; his grandchildren Jack Dixon VanDeventer (and wife Nixon Powell VanDeventer), Hutton Whitney Hipps (and fiancé Ian Christopher Beckcom), Christopher Marion Hipps, Jr., Olivia Whitney Jacobi, John Roger Moore V, Susanna Elizabeth Jacobi, Gates Hamilton Moore, Jack Bennett Moore, and Grant Whitney Donaldson; and his two sons-in- law John David Jacobi and Christopher Marion Hipps. Pallbearers will be Dr. Joe Bill Belue, Dr. James T. Clark, Mr. John E. Deibel, Sr., Mr. Jack Whitney Donaldson, Dr. S. Edwin Duncan, Mr. Elmer G. Ellis, Mr. George T. Hall, Mr. Doane F. Harrison, Mr. Christopher M. Hipps, Mr. John D. Jacobi, Dr. Jon T. Ledlie, Mr. John W. Noble, Dr. Ronald F. Vrnak, Dr. John F. Walker, and Mr. H. Andy Wall. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Jan H. Garrett, Dr. Mark Greenberg, Mr. Eddie L. Howard, Mr. H.T. Hyde, Mr. Tommy Hyde, Dr. James Holton, Mr. Harley D. Hooper, Mr. George Oge, Jr., Mr. Scott Myers, and Mr. J.B. Smith. Ron loved the great outdoors. He was an avid golfer, fisherman, traveler, a voracious reader and a lover of all things Scottish. There was rarely a sporting event he missed, including his grandchildren’s. He was a loyal friend, a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His wife Susan was the love of his life and they were to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary on August 23rd, 2015. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church Tyler, 230 W. Rusk St., Tyler, TX 75701, East Texas Medical Center Foundation, P O Box 6400, Tyler, TX 75711, East Texas Food Bank, 3201 Robertson Rd., Tyler, TX 75701 or Tyler Meals on Wheels, 3001 Robertson Rd., Tyler, TX 75701.

Dr. Ronald Jack Donaldson

January 12, 1937 - June 4, 2015