Donna R McGurk

Mrs. McGurk was born at Eglin AFB, Florida, on July 3, 1943, the first daughter of Don H. and Frieda G. Rogers. Her father, who retired as a Colonel in the US Air Force, had a career that took his family around the world, and some of Donna’s stops included occupation-era Japan and Tennessee.

She attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and St. Petersburg Junior College, and was a flight attendant for United Airlines prior to marrying Thomas D. McGurk, formerly of Champaign, Illinois. They had two children, Tom (Monica), of Winnetka, Illinois, and Kim (Gale) of Henderson, Nevada, and were married 55 years before his passing last November.

Her husband Tom also pursued a career in the military, so Donna spent most of her life on or near Air Force bases in the United States and around the world. She was a ferocious supporter of her husband’s career, an excellent parent (serving double duty when her husband was in Vietnam, or was forced to take extended trips), an enthusiastic world traveler, and a gracious, organized, and indomitably cheerful person. Her smile, her composure, and her strength were treasured by everyone fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister Barbara Brown, her son and daughter, daughter-in-law Monica, son-in-law Gale, and grandchildren, Thomas, Reagan, John, Owen, Jake, and Mitch.

Donna will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband in the coming months.