Donna Lee Runcorn

Donna Lee Runcorn, age 82 of Goodyear, AZ died March 11, 2020 in Goodyear, AZ. Donna was born March 7, 1938 in Alamosa, CO to Hubert and Gwendolyn Blankenship. As a young girl Donna moved to Albuquerque, NM, but Colorado was always her home in her heart. Donna and her husband Wil lived in Albuquerque NM where they were married in 1960 and their four children were born; Lori, Lani, Warren and Leslie. Donna was a wonderful cook and she was a homemaker at heart. She was an attentive mother and spent many hours with her children including taking them to early morning swimming practices and traveling to team swim meets, even to other cities around the southwest. Moving to Tucson, AZ in 1974 with Wil and children, she continued with Tucson swim teams and furthered nurtured her children in their education in school and at home.

Another job move in 1978 to Glendale, AZ where Wil was Manager of the Sun City Trust Office of First Interstate Bank of Arizona. She was a talented craft maker and she was proficient in crochet, knitting and sewing. During this time, she used her crocheting skills making sweaters for Estelle Gracer, a national fashion sensation in the 1980’s, to add extra income to help pay for college for her daughter’s Lori and Lani.

In 1983 back to Tucson with Wil the Trust Manager of the larger Tucson Trust Office. There she enjoyed making dolls with her daughter Leslie and working with her friend Linda Meade in all types of craft projects. She made quilted blankets for her grandchildren whom she loved so dearly. She spent many hours volunteering for the Amphitheater Marching Band raising funds working on their projects so Leslie could march in their trips to the Rose Bowl parade and to the Fiesta Bowl parade. She loved caring for her flowers and plants which she enjoyed sharing with Warren later in life and took pleasure in tropical fish. She had a passion for all different types of animals, a cockatiel bird named KC that kept her company along with the family dog Brandy. She had a shared interest in making beaded jewelry with Lori and admired Lori’s work. She spent her life working behind the scenes making sure that others were cared for before herself. The last move was back to the Phoenix area in 2015 living in Goodyear to be closer to family.

Donna and Wil loved to dance with each other, and they were wonderful together; both moved gracefully and never missed a beat. They had many adventures together taking them to all 50 United States as well the countries of Canada, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Monaco, Spain, Portugal, France and England. Wil drove from London, on the wrong side of the road, to the City of Runcorn, England, just across the river from Liverpool. They shared several trips to Hawaii, beginning with their 25th Anniversary.

Donna is survived by her husband, Wil Runcorn, daughter’s Lani McBeth and Leslie Bosse’; son Warren, brother Bryce Blankenship; thirteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also, surviving is her aunt Judy Parrish of La Jara, CO. and numerous cousins throughout the United States. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gwendolyn and Hubert Blankenship and her daughter Lori Lynn Peterson. Donna is laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ.

The family suggests that donations be made to the Lori Peterson Cancer Foundation, https://loripetersoncancerfoundation.org/. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/obituary/donna-lee-runcorn/.