CONNELL, Donald | Obituaries

CONNELL, Donald, age 87, passed away July 15, 2020, at home in Carrollton, Texas. Born February 21, 1933, in Richmond, Va., to the late David Connell and Anne Bramer Connell, Donald was a U.S. Army veteran, honorably discharged. He was raised and educated in Richmond, Va., then graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, Commonwealth University (RPI) and The University of Richmond. He worked his way through college while employed by Capital Airlines, which merged into United Airlines and became his career for 51 years, many of those as District Sales Manager. As well as being located in Virginia, Donald relocated to Florida, California, New York State and to Texas, from where he also commuted by air to Colorado until retirement. While in Virginia, Donald married Shirley Purdy. They raised their three children, Don Jr., David and Dana, through graduation from high school, preceding a divorce. Years later, on June 9, 1984, Don married Laurie Walker Helmer DeMar, followed by a honeymoon to the Hawaiian Islands. After, they continued to raise children from Laurie’s prior marriage, D. Jeremy DeMar and Jennifer E. DeMar. Don and Laurie’s son, Adam P. Connell, was born in Rochester, N.Y., before the family of five moved to Texas in 1988. Currently, son, Don Connell, lives in Newark, N.Y., son, David Connell, lives in Rowlett, Texas; daughter, Dana Connell (Mrs. David Wolf), lives in Akron, N.Y.; D. Jeremy DeMar lives in Springfield, Mass., with wife, Heather, two sons, Austin and Zachary and daughter, Morgan; Jennifer DeMar and son, Cameron, live in Carrollton, Texas; son, Adam Connell, lives in North Olmsted, Ohio. Donald was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, David, Pauline, Anne, John, Joe and twins, Jeanne and Jacquelyn. He kept in contact with most of their children, Anne Pitts’ sons, David, Carl and Paul Pitts, Joe’s son, (Little) Joe Connell and Jeanne Huff’s sons, Mark, John and Jim Huff. As a child, Don enjoyed all sports, fishing, crabbing and boating on the Potomac River. In his later years, he continued to enjoy fishing and boating on Lake Lewisville in Texas. Sometimes with children and at times just the couple, Donald and Laurie were fortunate to travel to Japan, Hong Kong, China, Makao, many U.S. states, including cruises to Alaska and on the Mississippi River and cruises to the Caribbean. All made for grand memories. As per Donald’s request, plans are for cremation at Rhoton Funeral Home in Carrollton. His cremains will be kept at home in a bronze oval box (urn) topped by a fisherman holding up his big catch while seated in a rowboat on a calm lake. No memorial is scheduled at this time, but please keep Donald Connell in your prayers.

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