1923
Elizabeth
2011
Elizabeth R. Donaldson
September 6, 1923 — April 17, 2011
Listen to Obituary
Elizabeth Regina Ackerman Donaldson, 87 years old, of Baltimore passed away Palm Sunday,
April 17, 2011, Northwest Hospital Center, Randallstown, MD. She was lovingly known as "Nana" by her 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth—known as "Betty" to her friends and co-workers—was born on September 6, 1923, in Baltimore. She was the daughter of the late Wendelin Frank Gilbert, Sr., and Eva Mary Benner Gilbert. She had three siblings and a sister-in-law: Wendelin Frank Gilbert, Jr. (Deceased);
John Adam Gilbert (Deceased); and James Adam Gilbert (Blanche Gilbert).
Elizabeth was the wife of the late Bruce Hamilton Ackerman who passed away in 1957, and she married Melvin Graham Donaldson in 1960. They were married for 39 years. Mr. Donaldson passed away in 1999.
Elizabeth attended the old Western High School in Baltimore. Until her second marriage in 1960, she was the regional supervisor for the White Tower Restaurants in Baltimore, MD, and Atlantic City, NJ.
In fact, in 1994, she was honored by the Baltimore Industrial Museum as one of the female pioneers who broke the glass ceiling in business for women.
She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Shirl Ackerman-Ross (Maurice P. Ross, Jr.); Robert Bruce Ackerman, Sr. (Barbara Brown Ackerman); Stephen Graham Donaldson (Deceased); Michael Graham Donaldson, Sr. (Sharon Donaldson); Linda Catherine Donaldson Ward (Creston R. Ward); and Darlene Marie Lilly (James Lilly [Deceased]).
Elizabeth is survived by her 18 grandchildren: Robert Bruce Ackerman, Jr.; Sheila Ann Ackerman (Deceased); Elizabeth Parrish Ackerman; James Francis Ackerman; Robin Ann Ross Grim;
Tony Paul Ross; Stacy Lynn Donaldson; Robin Lynn Donaldson Oerman; Michael Graham Donaldson, Jr.; Wesley Melvin Graham Donaldson; Melissa Gullion-Fareed; Jesse James Lilly;
Mary Lilly Harding; Jordan James Lilly; Brian Rogers Ward; Jason Creston Ward (Deceased);
Derek Patrick Ward; and Stephanie Brown Lang.
She is also survived by one niece and her husband, Teresa and Richard Davis; one nephew and his wife, Thomas and Kathy Gilbert; two great-nieces; and one great-nephew.
Funeral preparations will be made by Eckhardt Funeral Chapel P.A.; 11605 Reisterstown Road; Owings Mills, MD. There will be no public viewing.
Services will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 65 Sacred Heart Lane, Glyndon, MD. The family and friends will visit together at the Church 1 hour before the Mass. Interment in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Owings Mills, MD, where she will be laid to rest with her second husband, SSGT Melvin Donaldson, U.S. Army.
The family requests that donations in her memory should be sent to the St. Jude Shrine, 512 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1879.
Online condolences may be offered at www.eckhardtfuneralchapel.com
April 17, 2011, Northwest Hospital Center, Randallstown, MD. She was lovingly known as "Nana" by her 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth—known as "Betty" to her friends and co-workers—was born on September 6, 1923, in Baltimore. She was the daughter of the late Wendelin Frank Gilbert, Sr., and Eva Mary Benner Gilbert. She had three siblings and a sister-in-law: Wendelin Frank Gilbert, Jr. (Deceased);
John Adam Gilbert (Deceased); and James Adam Gilbert (Blanche Gilbert).
Elizabeth was the wife of the late Bruce Hamilton Ackerman who passed away in 1957, and she married Melvin Graham Donaldson in 1960. They were married for 39 years. Mr. Donaldson passed away in 1999.
Elizabeth attended the old Western High School in Baltimore. Until her second marriage in 1960, she was the regional supervisor for the White Tower Restaurants in Baltimore, MD, and Atlantic City, NJ.
In fact, in 1994, she was honored by the Baltimore Industrial Museum as one of the female pioneers who broke the glass ceiling in business for women.
She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Shirl Ackerman-Ross (Maurice P. Ross, Jr.); Robert Bruce Ackerman, Sr. (Barbara Brown Ackerman); Stephen Graham Donaldson (Deceased); Michael Graham Donaldson, Sr. (Sharon Donaldson); Linda Catherine Donaldson Ward (Creston R. Ward); and Darlene Marie Lilly (James Lilly [Deceased]).
Elizabeth is survived by her 18 grandchildren: Robert Bruce Ackerman, Jr.; Sheila Ann Ackerman (Deceased); Elizabeth Parrish Ackerman; James Francis Ackerman; Robin Ann Ross Grim;
Tony Paul Ross; Stacy Lynn Donaldson; Robin Lynn Donaldson Oerman; Michael Graham Donaldson, Jr.; Wesley Melvin Graham Donaldson; Melissa Gullion-Fareed; Jesse James Lilly;
Mary Lilly Harding; Jordan James Lilly; Brian Rogers Ward; Jason Creston Ward (Deceased);
Derek Patrick Ward; and Stephanie Brown Lang.
She is also survived by one niece and her husband, Teresa and Richard Davis; one nephew and his wife, Thomas and Kathy Gilbert; two great-nieces; and one great-nephew.
Funeral preparations will be made by Eckhardt Funeral Chapel P.A.; 11605 Reisterstown Road; Owings Mills, MD. There will be no public viewing.
Services will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 65 Sacred Heart Lane, Glyndon, MD. The family and friends will visit together at the Church 1 hour before the Mass. Interment in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Owings Mills, MD, where she will be laid to rest with her second husband, SSGT Melvin Donaldson, U.S. Army.
The family requests that donations in her memory should be sent to the St. Jude Shrine, 512 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1879.
Online condolences may be offered at www.eckhardtfuneralchapel.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth R. Donaldson, please visit our flower store.
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