Dorothy S Donaldson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Dorothy Symes Wilcox Donaldson. Known as Mickey, she went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 5th. She lost her year long battle with cancer at the age of 98. She passed at home holding the hands of loved ones.

Born September 30, 1926 in Union, NJ to her parents Lillian and Edgar Symes, she was the youngest of 3 girls. She was predeceased by her parents, and her two sisters, Ruth Sheehan and Gladys Frey, her ex-husband Robert Wilcox and her second husband Robert Donaldson. Mickey had three children: James Wilcox (Phyllis) of Chatham Township, NJ, Robyn Wilcox Ahlers (Peter) of Baden, Pa, and Keith Wilcox (Teri) of Seminole, Fl. Mickey had two step children, Barbara Egbert of Princeton, NJ, Warren Donaldson (Cheryl) of Louisville, Ky. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews.

Mickey began her career as a telephone operator for NJ Bell in 1945. She moved from Union, NJ to Los Angeles in 1954. She returned to the east coast in 1957 where she worked for Kemper Insurance and raised her children in Chatham, NJ. In the early 1960’s she worked for the Chatham Borough Board of Education, where she retired as the assistant to the business administrator in 1989. She and her husband Robert Donaldson moved to Bethlehem, Pa in 1991. In 2015 she moved to Seminole, Florida with her son Keith, and daughter-in-law, Teri. Mickey spent her last years as a resident of Lake Seminole Square, where she was known as the person who was always smiling. Residents nicknamed her the birdlady as flocks of birds and squirrels gathered around her when she sat by the lake. She was loved by her neighbors and the staff at LSS.

Mickey was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She had a deep faith in God and was a faithful follower of Christ. She had a positive attitude and a constant smile on her face. A lover of good music, she played the piano and sang soprano beautifully in church choirs and choruses. When visiting musicians would perform at Lake Seminole Square, Mickey would sing along. They all recognized her voice and would call out to her by name.

Funeral arrangements are through the Wm A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home at 345 Main Street Chatham, NJ 07928, (973) 635-2428. Date is yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials in the name of Dorothy S. Donaldson may be made to the American Cancer Society, or the SPCA.