Robert Mangan Donohue

Robert Mangan "Bob" Donohue passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus, his Lord and Savior, surrounded by his loving family on April 6, 2014. Preceded in death by his parents Daniel Leonard and Anita Paul Donohue and brothers Lenny and Johnny. He is survived by sons Bobby and wife Rosie, Mike and wife Kathy and daughter Erin, all of Dallas, and daughter Shannon and husband Bob Shary of Houston.

Much beloved grandchildren are Naval Lt. Bret Shary, Conor and wife Lindsay and Mallory Shary of Houston, John Mark Mayad, Trevor and Morgan Donohue of Dallas. Also, extended family Todd Roby and wife Susan, Haley Stringer and their 4 children, Liam, Henley, Lily and Elise.

A lifelong resident of Dallas, he was born on April 28, 1930. Bob attended Holy Trinity Catholic Grade School and graduated from North Dallas High School where he excelled in sports. He followed his brother Johnny to Schreiner Jr. College in Kerrville, TX on a track scholarship and lettered in track running the high hurdles at SMU. He graduated from North Texas State College in 1952, receiving the first ROTC pilot's commission from their program. While at North Texas, he joined a local fraternity, "The Talons", where he made friends for life, still meeting them for lunches at Campisi's, their old college hangout.

He met the love of his life, Delma Lucille Deaver, of Bowie at North Texas. They married in 1953 and enjoyed raising 4 beautiful children.

Entering the U.S. Air Force in 1953, Bob flew the F-86 Sabre Jet. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal while a First Lieutenant. Upon leaving the armed services, Bob began his commercial flying career with Braniff International Airlines from 1957 to 1982. He then flew as a corporate jet pilot for Northern Telecom and several charter flight companies. Dad logged over 30,000 flying hours in various commercial aircraft including the Boeing 727, and he proudly said: "Never put a scratch on an airplane". He was chosen for an international ad campaign as the face of Braniff on billboards around the world in the 70's. He flew Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys to their away games and was chosen as a scout during those football games based on his keen knowledge of the sport. Known as a history buff and expert on sports, Bob was in a league of his own when it came to historical facts and sports statistics and trivia.

He was close to his children and his grandchildren were a source of immense pride. He loved his family taking them on wonderful international trips and they spent many weekends water skiing and boating on Lake Lewisville. Numerous beach trips to Acapulco, Hawaii, S. Padre Island and Cancun were the highlights of summers. Dove hunting in Bowie with sons, Bobby and Mike, and duck hunting trips to Abbeville, Louisiana, with brother Johnny and his 4 sons were an annual tradition. His two beautiful daughters Shannon and Erin were truly the light of his Irish life.

The family would like to thank Bob's childhood friends Bert Littlejohn, David Hankins, Chandler Reynolds, special friend Ruth Jaubert, and cherished cousin Midge Murnane Yoxall for their many supportive visits.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 11, at the Calvary Hill Funeral Home Chapel from 4:00-8:00p.m. with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will take place at the Calvary Hill North Mausoleum Chapel, 3235 Lombardy Ln., on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Calvary Hill Cemetery. Please consider donations to the USO, P.O. Box 9680, Washington D.C. 20077 and American Heart Association or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.calvaryhilldallas.com.