Joe Howard McDonald

Joe Howard McDonald, age 79, departed this life peacefully on November 28, 2025 at Westminster Woods On Julington Creek in St. John’s, Florida, 11 days before his 80th birthday. A Memorial Service will be held on January 24 at 1:00 pm in the sanctuary of All Saints Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida with Father Quinn Parnam officiating. Music will be offered by the Parish Choir and Guitar Ensemble under the direction of Michael Mastronicola. Committal into the All Saints Columbarium will immediately follow the service, with a reception thereafter in Rogers Hall.

Joe, born on Dec. 9, 1945 in Newnan, Georgia, was the son of Julian Howard McDonald and Veola Owens McDonald. In 1959 when he was 13 years old and in the 8th grade, he experienced the early deaths of both parents, his mother from cancer and his father a few months later from a heart attack. His only sibling, his sister Lynn, 8 years older than Joe, graduated that spring from Wesleyan College and became his legal guardian. They moved to Atlanta and Joe entered Buckhead’s North Fulton High School as a freshman and graduated in 1963. Continuing his education at Duke University from 1963-67, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics followed by graduation two years later from the University of North Carolina with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He then entered Naval Officers Candidates School in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated as an Ensign in October 1969. He was assigned to the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterrey, California. Instead of deployment to Vietnam, he held a faculty position as Instructor in Management teaching Naval Officers, most older than he, various courses in management over the next 3 years, until 1972.

When the Vietnam War was winding down, the Navy was reducing its officer population by offering early separation for junior officers. Joe took early release from the Navy in 1972 and was hired by Memorex Corporation in Santa Clara, California to work in computer modeling. Following 2 years at Memorex, in 1974 he was hired by C. Brewer, Ltd. taking him to Honolulu as a financial systems analyst where he worked in positions of increasing responsibility until he became Controller. From 1975-84, he computerized all financial operations for the company and subsidiaries. Following a nearly 40-year career in corporate finance, Joe retired in 2009 as Sr. Vice-President Finance of a subsidiary company of Citi Group.

While in the Navy in California, Joe met Laura whom he married in 1974, and together they raised 4 children. They moved from California in February 1975 to Honolulu. When their oldest son was accepted at Georgia Tech in 1984, Joe and Laura decided it was time for them to move back to the mainland, preferably Atlanta. However, C. Brewer’s parent company I.U. International offered Joe a job in Jacksonville, Florida where the family moved in June 1984. Joe and Laura were married for 35 years until Laura’s death in 2009. To fast forward to the present day, all 4 of their adult children are married, and Joe has 12 grandchildren (4 married) and 3 great grandsons.

Constants in Joe’s life and his greatest joys were family, music, and church. Besides being a terrific dancer, he was a guitarist and a singer, frequently a soloist. For most of his life he participated in school and church choirs. He became a member of Jacksonville’s All Saints Episcopal Church in 1986 and, besides being a choir member and guitarist at Sunday morning services, he served as church Treasurer for 6 years and also as a Board member for the All Saints Early Learning Center for 4 years, its President for 1 year.

Joe was a master woodworker. He taught himself woodworking which he pursued with the same zeal and meticulous attention to detail that he pursued financial modeling. He learned to build whatever was needed, beginning with simple cabinets and bookshelves. His skills evolved to his being able to create household furniture and a fabulous 3-story dollhouse, including all furniture, to the delight of his grandchildren. Over time, increasing his skills and extensive tools collection, he completed numerous projects for family and friends. The space that was once a garage became his workshop.

He was also a prolific reader holding a once extensive book collection.

At his 50th high school reunion in 2013 he was reconnected with his high school and early college sweetheart, both devoted to each other for 4 years, from the ages of 16 to almost 20. They lost all contact following their breakup in 1965, between their sophomore and junior years in college. Now in their 70’s, they realized they had fallen deeply in love again. Karen moved from Atlanta to Jacksonville and they were married, 52 years after they originally planned to be married. Joe and Karen celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary on August 19, 2025. They have been happy beyond measure to have been together the past 7 1/2 years.

Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife Laura in 2009, his sister Lynn McDonald Boswell in 2017, his cousins Judy Walker Smith in 2020 and Bruce McDonald in 2025. He is survived by his wife Karen Moore McDonald, his 4 children: son Richard Genet and daughter-in-law Sabine of Atlanta, GA; daughter Danielle Walker and son-in-law John of Austin, Texas; daughter Ingrid Wilson and son-in-law Erik of St. Augustine, FL; and son David McDonald and wife Andi of Atlanta, GA; his 12 grandchildren: Zoe Genet, Thea Genet, Sam Genet, Jordan Walker (wife Alia), Elle Shelsby, (husband Gil), Gracie Peacock (husband Stephen), David Wilson (wife Katie), Mylie Wilson, Jack Wilson, Grant Wilson, Evan McDonald, Lucy McDonald; and 3 great grandsons: Ezra Shelsby, Wyndham Walker, and Judah Shelsby, born just 8 days before Joe’s death.

If you would like to make a donation in Joe’s memory, please consider the music program of All Saints Episcopal Church 4171 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32207. www.allsaintsjax.org