McDonald, Violet (Pat)

Violet Kilgore (Pat) McDonald, 90, of Fairlawn, passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. She was the widow of Jack McDonald and is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jackie and John Freeman of Dublin.

Also surviving are her grandsons, Robert Darden Freeman, his wife Heather Day Freeman and great grandchildren John Cooper Freeman and Anamarie Day Freeman of Dublin, and grandson Douglas McDonald Freeman of Austin, Texas.

Pat was born in Norton, Virginia in April 1924. Following the death of both parents when she was a child, she was raised by her brothers, Robert and Claude Kilgore. She was the last surviving of 8 siblings. Although she married and moved away from her beloved mountains, she always felt Wise County was home. She was a descendent of Revolutionary War soldiers who fought at King’s Mountain and a lifelong devoted Democrat.

Pat was an avid gardener who loved her flowers and enjoyed summers outdoors cultivating them. She retired from Electro-Tech and began 20 years of volunteering at Radford Community Hospital and later at Carilion New River Valley hospital. She began the “baby closet” to help provide clothing for newborns of mothers in need, and was cited by Governor Wilder for her volunteer efforts. She was also an avid reader and even after losing her eyesight to macular degeneration she “read” books on tape. Her love of books was passed on to her family.

Pat was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Norton and later Fairlawn Methodist Church. She was proud to have been a Girl Scout troop leader and later became the biggest fan of her two grandsons, never missing a ball game or family celebration.

The last year of her life was spent at Wheatland Hills Assisted Living (Commonwealth Assisted Living) in Fairlawn and the family would like to thank the staff who befriended and cared for her and the friends she made there.

A memorial church service will be held at Fairlawn United Methodist Church Monday, June 16 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends one hour before the service in the church sanctuary. A private memorial for family will be held later in the mountains of Norton overlooking the site of her childhood home.

Any remembrances in her name should be made to Fairlawn United Methodist Church, 7485 Brandon Road, Fairlawn, VA 24141, or to the Volunteer Auxiliary of New River Valley Carilion hospital, Attn: Julia Dill, 2900 Lamb Circle, Christiansburg, VA 24073.

The McDonald family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com