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Joan Donaldson

Mrs. Joan Goode Donaldson, 82, a resident of Crim Avenue in Belington, departed this life Thursday morning, April 18, 2013, in Colonial Place Nursing Facility at Elkins following a period of declining health.

She was born Dec. 29, 1930, at Wendell, a daughter of the late Charles Russell and Urie Yeager Goode.

On Dec. 29, 1951, Mrs. Donaldson married Robert Carl “Bob” Donaldson, who preceded her in death Jan. 11, 2010. Their nuptials were performed at Asbury United Methodist Church in Belington by the late Rev. Arden Beck.

Mrs. Donaldson is survived by one daughter, Jana Lee Ruf and husband, Eric, of Belington, and a beloved granddaughter, Anna Marie Ruf, whom she dearly loved. Also surviving are one sister, Jacquelee Greathouse and husband, Lou, of Roswell, GA.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one infant sister, Earnestine.

Mrs. Donaldson graduated from Belington High School with the class of 1948, Davis & Elkins College in 1951 and graduated with a master’s degree from West Virginia University in 1960. She began her teaching career at the age of 20 in the Normal one-room school near Belington. During her career, she taught French and English in many schools throughout Barbour County including Belington High School. Upon the consolidation of the county high schools in 1963, Joan went to the new Philip Barbour High, where she served as the school’s guidance counselor until 1989. She then moved to Georgia where she taught in the Cobb County, Ga., school system from 1989 until her retirement in 1992.

Mrs. Donaldson was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Belington, was a past Worthy Matron of Belington Chapter 68 Order of the Eastern Star and presently a member of Philippi Chapter 41 Order of the Eastern Star. She was a past president of Lambda Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma and a member of Barbour County Historical Society. She also was a member of Barbour County Retired Teachers Association and was recently honored with being accepted into the Barbour Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Friends will be received at Talbott Funeral Home, 210 Brandenburg St. in Belington from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday April 20, and again Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. when final rites will then be conducted from the funeral home chapel with Pastor Judy Flynn officiating. Interment will follow in the Fraternal Cemetery near Belington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Asbury United Methodist Church, 512 Beverly Pike, Belington, WV 26250. Talbott Funeral Home in Belington is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Joan Goode Donaldson. Condolences can be made to the family at www.talbottfuneralhome.com.