Lawrence Joseph McDonald

Lawrence “Larry” Joseph McDonald, Sr., 84, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away peacefully at his home after a long battle with colon cancer on Monday, October 29, 2018. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, November 11, 2018, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1210 Wooten Lake Rd. NW, Kennesaw, GA. Fr. Ben Day will be officiating. Larry was born October 9, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, to Harold and Rose McDonald. He graduated from Dearborn High School in 1952 and from the Eastern Michigan University in 1956. In 1956 he married the former Carol Ann Skavdahl of Dearborn, Michigan, his wife until 1984, and married the former Mary Charles Brown of Atlanta, GA, in 1993. Larry was an educator at heart, beginning his career as an elementary school physical education teacher, and working in the elementary school system after his retirement. He also expressed his passion for teaching and mentoring through his first love, baseball, by coaching at the junior college level as well as for both of his sons. A faithful member of his church, Larry also had a very successful career as an insurance agent, eventually establishing his own insurance and financial consulting firm from which he retired in 1998. He also enjoyed singing in the church choir, gardening, tennis, and golf. He touched countless individuals through numerous charitable activities, including a deep passion to improve the lives of children through his decades-long membership in Kiwanis International. Larry always felt extremely blessed to be around his family and friends. He leaves an enduring legacy of love, compassion. and heartwarming vulnerability as our “designated crier”, shedding tears of joy as he felt the Spirit of God move in even the simplest of gatherings. Larry is survived by his wife, Mary Charles, son Lawrence McDonald Jr. and his wife Vicki, of Marietta, GA.; daughter Linda Paladeau and her husband Lou, of Herndon, VA.; son Michael McDonald and his wife Stephanie, of Atlanta, GA.; fifteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; by his sister Judith McDonald of Hudson, MI, and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his combined family as the result of his marriage to Mary Charles; her son Dr. Robert N. Brown and his wife Kathy, their children Christopher Miles Brown and Andrew Seward Brown; and her daughter Victoria Lee McMillan and her husband Bruce, and children Mary Catherine McMillan, Sarah Elisabeth McMillan, and Raleigh Clinton McMillan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Rose, former wife Carol McDonald, daughter Cheryl Ann McNamara, and sister Mary Jane Boken. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Christ Episcopal Church, 1210 Wooten Lake Rd. NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144.