Paul A. Donaldson

Paul Donaldson spent most of his 73 years in the North Arlington neighborhood of Cherrydale. His longtime home is right next door to the home his parents, Laurence and Isabelle Donaldson built and moved him to at the age of one. As a teen he was an active member of Boy Scout troop #149 at Cherrydale Methodist Church. At St. Andrews Episcopal Church, he served as an acolyte and youth group president. Leading newspaper drives, Halloween trick-or-treating for Easter Seals and many other charitable efforts, shaped a pattern of service that characterized his later years.

A 1958 graduate of Washington-Lee High School, he served in the Air National Guard and was activated during the Berlin/Cuban Missal crises of 1961-62. He worked for the US Postal Service for nearly 30 years and was active in the American Legion General Billy Mitchell Post 85, serving four terms as Post Commander, and leading the post in its many charitable endeavors. In addition, he was a member of the Voiture 934 of the Forty and Eight, an honor organization for veterans. As a Dad, he coached Little League and helped with the Boy Scouts.

A longtime Arlington resident, Paul was a walking repository of the county’s history, often prefacing directions with, “You remember where the old _______________ building used to be?” He was noted for his wry sense of humor, which served him to the end. When asked recently by a family member asked how he was doing, he quipped, “I was doing fine, but I got over it!”

He enjoyed country music, NASCAR, and lived in the DC area long enough to develop a love/hate relationship with the Redskins and Nationals. He was never convinced that their newfound success was for real. His second home near the Potomac at Coltons Point, MD brought him great joy and he rarely missed the annual “Blessing of the Fleet” at the October launch of oyster season.

Of all the things Paul cared about, his family was most important. His wife of almost 40 years, Carol Donaldson, predeceased him in December of 2011. He is survived by a sister Susan Simmons of Fairfax and four children—Mara Gemond (husband Denis) of Falls Church; Laurie Donaldson of Prescott, AZ; James “Randy” Booze (wife Ruth) of Milton, FL; and Jennifer Jenkins of Falling Waters, WV. He has eight grandchildren--Paul Eric Gemond, Matthew Gemond, Jessica Gemond, Justin Gemond, Christian Gemond, Samantha Jenkins, Kendall Jenkins and Isabelle Jenkins. Benjamin Griffin and Noah Jenkins are his great-grandsons.

He lived a full and happy life and whether known as Paul, Dad, Pa Pa, or Grandpa, he will be missed by those who knew him and loved him. Donations may be made in his honor to the American Heart Association.

The Funeral will be Monday ,July 15, at 11a.m. at the National Funeral Home,7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA. Burial will follow at National Memorial Park Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 at the Funeral Home.