Donna Ruth Kempton

Donna Ruth Kempton was born on March 18th, 1932 to Lily and Peter Cowger in Webster Springs, WV. She was the tenth child and baby of the family. She grew up on the family farm along with her brothers and sisters and learned the value of hard work. During WWII, the girls were left to tend the farm in the absence of their brothers. Farm life and coal mining didn't interest Donna and she left WV right after graduating as the 1950 valedictorian of Webster Springs High School. She moved to Detroit to live with her older sisters.

Six weeks after meeting him, Donna Cowger married Vincent Kempton in January 1951. They welcomed 7 children in the next ten years. They settled in Allen Park, Mi and raised their children in a neighborhood filled with other young families. Thirty years later they moved to Northville, Mi. Donna and Vincent were married 45 years until dad's death in 1996.

Donna was a woman of many talents and was known as a great cook and as a seamstress. When she was in her fifties a friend talked her into taking a painting class. Donna was a natural and spent the next 30 years creating beautiful oil and watercolor paintings. She was proud to gift her artwork to friends and family. She particularly liked to create holiday cards featuring her artwork every Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving.

Donna is survived by her seven children, Michael (Beth), Karen (John) Jenkins, Linda, Sandra, John (Kathy), Peggy and Mark. Proud grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 2. Dear sister of Pearl Buck of Owens Cross Roads, AL and brothers Bennie (Barb) Cowger and Marty (Alida) Cowger of Webster Springs, WV. Special thanks to her caregiver Karen Mistretta.

After a brief in-patient admission at Angela Hospice, she entered into her heavenly reward on Monday April 22, 2019 surrounded by her children and friends.

Visitation will be held at Harry Will Funeral Home in Livonia on Wednesday April 24 from 2-8pm. Funeral service at St. Colette Church in Livonia at 11:30am on Thursday April 25. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Angela Hospice.