Robert "Bob" Donahue

Robert “Bob” Allan Donahue, born Sept 02, 1947 in Great Falls, MT, peacefully passed away Sept 30, 2026 at the age of 79 in Fort Smith, AR. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Eugene Donahue (Feb 20, 1992) and Wilma Juanita Donahue (June 04, 2020). After an especially harsh Montana winter, his parents opted to move back south closer to Wilma’s family in Wichita Falls, TX, later welcoming his sister, Mary, in 1956. His family enjoyed summers at a lake cabin, where Robert “skied” barefoot, on plywood, cooler lids, and even water skis.

Robert enjoyed math, music, and launching hamsters “into space” in model rockets as a youth. He learned to play the violin, piano, trombone and other instruments, and was awarded all-state in violin in high school. Robert graduated from Hirschi High School in 1966.

Robert attended Midwestern State University, where he played trombone in the MSU Indian Band, was active in a music fraternity, ROTC, and other student organizations. His volunteer activity in a community band provided the opportunity to extend his trombone prowess beside the ear of Marian “Cookie” Darleen Sims, who later agreed to join him in life’s music. Upon the proposal to share a tent for the rest of their lives, Bob and Cookie married on Oct 12, 1968.

Bob’s ROTC involvement extended after college into basic training, officer candidate school, and assignments at Fort Gordon, GA, Fort Monmouth, NJ, and Fort Polk, LA. Upon finishing advanced ROTC training, his mother, Nita, and wife, Cookie, pinned his 2nd lieutenant bars as he received his commission in December of 1970. After 3 years of active duty in the United States Army, he returned to civilian life in 1974. His orders to serve in Vietnam were rescinded one week before his scheduled deployment. He later returned for 4 years of reserve duty as a Communications Officer, and left in 1984 after being promoted to the rank of Major. He was attached to the 980th Engineer Battalion Unit.

Bob and Cookie, both educators, spent most of their careers working for the same school district, typically with Bob teaching HS and Cookie teaching ES. Bob’s teaching career saw him start as a band director, and later transitioning to teaching math, computer science, physics, and later choir and jazz band. Bob and Cookie also spent several years leading the drill team and cheerleaders for a small TX HS. Bob’s true love was teaching, helping students expand their minds and see beyond what they see in the foreground. Bob’s students have become teachers, architects, engineers, computer scientists, managers, leaders, agricultural extension agents, musicians, actors and much more.

Bob earned a Bachelor of Music from Midwestern State University, a Master of Music Education from Midwestern State University, and a Bachelor of Computer Science from Texas Women’s University. Later, he would serve as adjutant for the American Legion Post 67 in Vernon, TX. He served on teacher organizations, water boards, and Quartz Mountain Christian Camp Board. His faith journey included leading singing and serving as an elder for many years.

Bob and Cookie’s adventures led them to homes in Wichita Falls, TX, Burkburnett, TX, Leesville, LA, Nocona, TX, Chillicothe, TX, Harrold, TX, and Fort Smith, AR. Bob loved good food, family, humor, and teasing Cookie. Their two children, Robert, born in 1971, and Melody, born in 1977, enjoyed traveling extensively across the US during summer vacations by tent and RV, warmed by campfires, smores, and hiking. Bob certainly fulfilled his promise to share a tent and honor their life together for 58 years.

Bob is survived by his wife, Cookie, of Fort Smith, AR, his son, Robert and wife Heather, of Round Rock, TX, his daughter, Melody and husband John Priester of Fort Smith, AR, sister, Mary Almanza of Cedar Hill, TX, and grandsons, Caleb, Joshua, and Nathan.

Family visitation will be at Edwards Funeral Home on Sunday from 2:00-4:00. Funeral service will be at WestArk Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR, 9:30am Monday Oct 05 with burial 11:00 am at Fort Smith National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations, made in memory of Bob Donahue, to Quartz Mountain Christian Camp to help replace the main hall that was destroyed in a recent fire at qmcc.org