Obituary Willodene Hobby Donathan | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Willodene Hobby Donathan, age 92, left our mortal world on Friday, July 26, 2024 to join family and friends who have been awaiting her arrival in Heaven. She was born on September 9, 1931, in Hot Springs, Ark., the daughter of Charley Floyd and Orene Henson Hobby, both of whom preceded her in death. She is also survived by her husband of 69 years, Ray Donathan; one grandson; one brother, Donald Floyd Hobby; three brothers-in-law, Raymond L Donathan, James Donathan and Donald Donathan. Willodene graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in 1949. She married Ray Donathan on November 29, 1950. When Ray joined the Army in 1952, she traveled with him for his military engagements, which gave her a lifelong itch to travel. She and Ray returned to Hot Springs in 1954 to raise their family and remained there until their deaths. Willodene was an employee of Farm Bureau Insurance when her children were young. She was an integral part of the founding of Donathan Real Estate Appraisal, where she worked until her retirement in 2007. She was an active member of Pilot Club and Criterion Club. She joined Community of Christ Church when she married Ray and remained a member until her death. Along with her husband, she was a longtime member of the University of Arkansas Road Hogs, where she served as secretary, and a member of the Razorback Foundation. When she and their devoted dogs weren’t following the Razorbacks around the country for competitions, they were traveling all over the country in their RV. She loved traveling in an RV and her family is certain Heaven sent one with Razorback decals to pick her up on Friday morning so she could join her fellow Road Hogs at their Heavenly RV park. She is survived by two daughters, Marsha Donathan Kimbrough and her husband, Dr. Randy Kimbrough of Springdale, Ark., and Dr. Cynthia Donathan Morgan and her husband, Phillip Morgan of Hot Springs. She was the mother of three grandchildren, Dr. Scott Kimbrough and his wife, Lauren, Amy Kimbrough Mitchell and her husband, Doug Mitchell of Springdale, and Rev. Mark Kimbrough and his wife, Dr. Hannah Davis Kimbrough of Katy, Texas; six great-grandchildren, Eliza Grace Kimbrough, Shepard Clifton Kimbrough, Lydia Kate Mitchell, Liam Kimbrough Mitchell, Miley Rose Kimbrough and Phoebe Kate Kimbrough. She is survived by three sisters-in-law, Barbara Donathan, Sharon Donathan and Shirley Hobby, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Corine and OJ Smith, all of Hot Springs; and numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends of her daughters. Pallbearers will be Dr. Randy Kimbrough, Phillip Morgan, Doug Hobby, Greg Hobby, Delana Hobby Spivey, Dr. Scott Kimbrough, and Doug Mitchell. The family would like to thank and acknowledge Arkansas Hospice for their care and Dr. Scott Anderson for his many years of caring medical service to both Willodene and Ray. The family is grateful for the loving care of Willodene’s longtime caregivers Amanda Lecroy, Brenda Hammock, and Christine Blackman. We will always be grateful for all of you ladies in her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Ray and Willodene Donathan Scholarship at National Park College. Visitation with family will be at 1:00 PM at Smith Funeral Home, 2205 Airport Road in Hot Springs, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow the service in Memorial Gardens.

Published on July 30, 2024