Donna Mae Lomax

Donna was born in Waupaca, Wisconsin on November 11, 1948, to Leonard Lawrence Rader and Janet Mykel Rader. She attended parochial school growing up in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. After graduation, she journeyed South, and after a brief stop in Louisville, Kentucky, she made her way to Charlotte, North Carolina. There she met her husband, Henry, whom she married on June 16, 1979. Donna and Henry spent the first few years of married life in Reno, Nevada, followed by a couple of years in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Following the birth of their son, Henry Charles Lomax, they returned to Charlotte where they made their permanent home. Their daughter, Deanna Ritch Lomax was born shortly after their return to Charlotte.

She completed her higher education at Queens University in Charlotte, going to school at night while raising her children. While studying at Queens, she worked mornings in the preschool at Saint John’s Episcopal to remain closely involved with her children’s upbringing. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and earned the Certified Public Accountant designation.

In her professional life, Donna was an administrative assistant at a major law firm and an assistant to the CEO of an international children’s portrait photography company. After achieving her CPA, she held several accounting posts in the medical services industry. She served many years as Chief Financial Officer for PMMC, a software solutions and services company focused on the healthcare industry. Upon retirement from PMMC, Donna continued corporate accounting work at independent insurance agency Lowry Insurance. She volunteered for many years as Treasurer for The Shepherd’s Center in Charlotte.

Donna will be remembered for her devotion to family and friends, her thoughtfulness regarding the needs of others, her senses of taste and humor, along with an incredibly sharp mind that focused on organization, planning and attention to detail. Donna loved being outdoors. Her passions included gardening, hiking (especially in the mountains), fine arts and crafts, and gourmet food and wine shared with family and friends. She cross country skied in the Sierras, and fished in the Appalachians, Alaska and Florida. Having visited all fifty United States, she loved travelling, including trips to Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey and the Galapagos. She enjoyed playing bridge and reading to keep her mind sharp.

Donna is survived by her husband Henry Clyde Lomax, Jr. of Charlotte, son Henry Charles (Charley) Lomax of Charlotte, daughter Deanna Ritch Lomax Miller and her husband Joel Daniel Miller, grandchildren Sarafina Elena Miller and Henry Warren Miller, all of Bradenton, Florida, and brother John William Rader of Kyle, Texas.

A funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday May 12 at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Road, Charlotte, North Carolina.

For those wishing to send memorial gifts, please consider the North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 334 Blackwell Street, Suite 300, Durham, North Carolina 27701 ([email protected]).