Nov.
17, 1917 - May 6, 2009SOUTH BEND - Barbara Donaldson passed away on May 6, 2009, at the age of 91 in her home in South Bend. Barbara was born November 30, 1917, in Etna Green, IN, daughter of Dr. Clyde Harrison Dunfee and Orpha Pearl Hatfield Dunfee. The family moved to Plymouth in 1926 where she graduated from Plymouth Lincoln High School in 1935. She attended the South Bend Business College and went to work for Associates in South Bend. In 1943 she was offered a position in Washington, D.C., in the office of Senator Raymond Willis (R-IN). In February 1945 at Manitowoc, Wisc. she christened the USS Loggerhead, SS-374 a Balao-class submarine, for the United States Navy. After her marriage on February 17, 1946, to Marc H. Donaldson (deceased June 28, 1970), she lived in Galesburg, IL, New Orleans and Cleveland, moving back to South Bend in 1960. She was the most generous and selfless person, always trying to make life better for everyone around her. She worked and owned businesses with her husband in South Bend at Indiana Lumber Company and Beacon Heights Apartments. She loved to travel and was able to go on many trips with her sister, Lois Elliott. We called them "The Girls," and they had a grand time. They traveled the world and hit just about every country at least once, never missing an opportunity to explore, whether in a wooden canoe (at age 80), or strolling the streets of Paris and Santa Fe. She will be deeply missed by her two children, Marc Donaldson (Morocco, IN) and Tonie Donaldson (Larry Shane, Woodside, CA); her stepdaughter, Nell Arnold (David, Peru); sister, Lois Elliott (Charlottesville, VA); grandchildren, Sarah and Marc Donaldson, Chris (Stacey) and Ryan Shane, Tim, Candy, David and John Arnold; great-grandchildren including Lucy Bailey and Tyler Shane; and a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters, Laura Dunfee and Josephine Burch; and by two brothers, Joseph Dunfee and Arnold Dunfee. Barbara had several health challenges over the years and was always able to bounce back with optimism, good cheer, dignity and supreme grace. She was a true lady, and we will miss her beautiful, gentle nature and kindness to all. Contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrj.org. A celebration of her wonderful life will be held later this summer. The Welsheimer Family Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at welshfh@yahoo.com.