Jim McDonald, age 85, of Duncanville, passed on Friday, October 28 while at home in DeSoto, Texas.
Jim was born on Dec. 26, 1936, in Marion County, the son of the late Mattie Handley and James F. McDonald, Sr. He was a 1956 graduate of Jefferson High School and a 1960 graduate of North Texas State University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. He met his 6-year military obligation through service in the US Army Reserves and was united in marriage to Claudia Kolar on October 13, 1962. He served 16 months on active duty in the 49th Armored Division during the Cuban Missile Crisis, was honorably discharged in 1966, and returned to work at the First National Bank in Dallas, Texas. He started his State Farm Agency on Main Street in Duncanville, Texas on July 1, 1965, where he continued to be an active agent and involved with the civic community through August of 2022.
He and Claudia were very proud to be founding members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The couple raised their daughter, Carrie in Duncanville, where he contributed to the High School’s foreign travel program. He was very active in both the Chamber of Commerce and the Duncanville Lion’s club and was honored in 2013 as Duncanville’s Man of the Year. He established a scholarship for undergraduate business students at the University of North Texas; served on advisory committees to help found UNT’s Innovation Center in Lancaster, Texas; and received their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003.
He was active throughout his life, playing on high school football and baseball teams, and golfing into his 70s, surviving multiple cancers. He and Claudia enjoyed travel throughout the U.S. and Europe with both church and opera tour companies. Another of his great joys was classical music. He will be remembered by all for his humor, fairness, enthusiasm, and great optimism.
.
Jim was a loving, devoted husband of 60 years, a father and a grandfather; survived by his wife Claudia, his daughter Carrie McDonald, his granddaughter Madeleine Corum, cousins, nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held 5 -7 pm with rosary starting at 6 pm, Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel.
Services will be 11:30 am on Friday, November 4, 2022, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Interment will be 10 a.m. Monday, November 14, 2022 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Any memorial gifts may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church or the Jim McDonald Endowment Fund, in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at University of North Texas.