David William McDonnold

David William McDonnold, 71, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2024 after an extended illness. David was born on May 26, 1952 in Temple, Texas. He met Kathleen, his wife of 48 years, at Killeen High School. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1974 and went on to work as a bridge design engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation for 30 years, followed by AECOM for an additional 20 years. In the 1970s, David was a young engineer who became the lead designer for the Pennybacker Bridge over Lake Austin. He then served as the engineer on site during construction until it opened in 1984. Two of his other favorite projects are the award-winning Brazos River bridges in Waco and the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge. The many bridges, overpasses and highway exchanges that he worked on, in over 200 counties in the state of Texas, speak to his professional legacy. He was passionate about his work, was highly respected for his expertise, and was a mentor and advisor to many.

Above all, he loved his family; he was happiest when everyone was together. He is survived by Kathleen, and his two daughters, Dr. Mollie McDonnold and Amy McDonnold, as well as his son in law, Cody Barnhill, and four grandchildren, Kiersten, Michaela, Beau, and Finn Barnhill, who all fondly remember their grandfather as the funniest man who let them have ice cream whenever they asked. He was the most supportive and enthusiastic cheerleader of everyone’s interests. He provided a strong moral compass and valued the importance of education. He was a captivating storyteller, and always had the perfect movie quote on-hand.

David is preceded in death by his mother and father, Maylee and Charles McDonnold. He is also survived by his three siblings, Charles “Chuck” McDonnold, Dianne Cunningham, and Carron Quintana, along with their families.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 3rd at 4:30pm at The Church at Highland Park, 5206 Balcones Drive, Austin, Texas, 78731, followed by a Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Church at Highland Park.