Mr. R.L. Donaldson, DVM, age 90, of Carthage, Tenn., and the oldest practicing veterinarian in Tenn., passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tenn.
Dr. Donaldson was born June 16, 1922, in the Peterman Bend Community of Clay County, Tenn., the son of the late John Humphrey Donaldson and Winnie Gertrude Davis. He married Belle Crawford Donaldson on July 25, 1952, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 18, 2002.
Dr. Donaldson is survived by five children, David Donaldson, of Memphis, Tenn., Frances Donaldson, of Carthage, Tenn., John Donaldson, of Carthage, Tenn., Allen (Catherine) Donaldson, of Brentwood, Tenn., and Mark Donaldson, of Florence, Ala.; four grandchildren, Rion (Brandon) Rigsby, Seth (Abby) Dias, Dona Donaldson and Nicolae Donaldson; five great- grandchildren, Brennan Rigsby, Clayton Rigsby, Cohen Rigsby, Reagan Dias and Bryant Dias.
Funeral services for Dr. Donaldson are scheduled to be conducted at 1 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2013, at the Carthage United Methodist Church. Brother Stephen Lee will officiate and interment will follow in the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
Visitation with the Donaldson family will be at the Carthage Chapel of Bass Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday at the Cartage United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m.
The Donaldson family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or the Carthage United Methodist Church.
