Barbara Ann McDonald

Barbara Ann McDonald, 68, of Mitchell, formerly of Corpus Christi, Texas, went to be with her Lord after a long battle with cancer surrounded by the love of her family. In lieu of a funeral service the family will hold a memorial service in Corpus Christi, Texas at a later date. Barbara was born in Pensacola, Florida on March 23, 1942 to Robert R. And Jacqueline (Zinn) Startzell. Due to her father’s naval career, she visited and lived in numerous cities across the United States and South America. Eventually they settled in Corpus Christi, Texas where she attended Southpark Junior High, where she met her life-long friend Nancy Pitt-Wilcox. She graduated from Carroll High School. After attending the University of Texas at Austin and working as a flight attendant for Braniff Airways, she married J.D. McDonald of Denison, Texas on November 7, 1964. This union produced two children, Sherrie in December of 1965 and Mark in August of 1969. Both children blessed Barbara by marrying two wonderful spouses, Greg Huston and Hope Lantrip McDonald, whom she considered her own children. They in turn blessed her additionally with a total of six grandchildren; Cyle, Tyler, Holly, and Bryce Huston and Megan and Noah McDonald. Barbara worked off and on throughout her life but found her last job at Lockheed-Martin as a flight simulator administrator the most satisfying and rewarding. The friends and co-workers she met there remained steadfast friends throughout her battle with cancer. In June of 2010, she left Corpus Christi to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Mitchell, Nebraska where her battle ended. Beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law and aunt you will be sorely missed. Survivors include children; Sherrie (Greg) Huston of Mitchell, NE and Mark (Hope) McDonald of Point Magoo, CA, grandchildren Tyler of Kearney, NE, Holly of Torrington, WY, Bryce of Mitchell, NE and Meagan and Noah of Point Magoo, CA, brother Rob (Linda)Startzell, niece Rhonda (Mark)Kubala, nephews; Randy (Tasha)Startzell and Robert (Danielle)Startzell, numerous great nieces and nephews and special family friends: Jason and Carter Anderson, Nancy Pitt-Wilcox, Pam Burns and John Mesembourg. Preceding her in death are grandson Cyle Huston, husband J.D. McDonald, parents and grandparents.