Donna Jean Roe

Donna was born on November 16, 1933 and passed away Saturday August 13, 2022 at age 88. She was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, to Donald and Mae Forbes, and when she was two years old, her family moved to Ohio. Donna graduated from South High School in Columbus in 1952. She was an active member of Thurman Ave. United Methodist Church, where she met the love of her life, Bruce Roe. They were married July 19, 1953 and had two daughters, Patty and Debbie. They happily lived in Gahanna Ohio, building a life together.

Donna was the kind of homemaker and mother who sewed dresses for her girls along with matching dresses for their dolls, and went on camping trips across America. She was a Girl Scout Leader, Masonic Rainbow Girls Mother Advisor, and a member of the Eastern Star. She also worked at Buckeye Union Insurance for about 10 years.

Another one of Donna’s passions was Stonybrook United Methodist Church. She was a charter member, and her years of contributions and involvement helped make Stonybrook what it is today. She was the 1st president of the Women’s Society and taught Sunday and Bible School. Donna also was the financial secretary and participated in countless charity programs and events. For years the community was cheerfully greeted and welcomed by Donna, or saw her tender smile as she passed out candles on Christmas Eve.

Donna’s faith gave her astounding strength her whole life. She was a compassionate listener, gregarious and friendly to everyone she met. She took care of many family members, even taking several of them into her own home when they could no longer take care of themselves. She treated friends as though they were family, and treasured her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Donna was a skillful painter of ceramics, then gifted them to many friends and family. In her later years, she was often immersed in another pastime, her puzzle books of twisty word searches and crosswords.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her infant sister, Lila Lee, 14 year old sister, JoNell, and her in-laws Clarence and Stella Roe.

Donna leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 69 years, Bruce Roe, her daughters, Patty (Dave) Mellett and Debbie (Willie) Zamora, her grandchildren Renee Zamora (Justin), J.J. (Elizabeth) Mellett, Amy Mellett, Kevin (Catalina) Zamora, Dustin (Ashley) Zamora, and Chris Mellett and great grandchildren Zuzu, Frankie, Pablo, Kai, and Archie.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2022 from 3pm-7pm with an Eastern Star Service at 6:45 at SCHOEDINGER FUNERAL HOME, 1051 East Johnstown Road, Gahanna, Ohio. Friends may also gather the following morning at STONYBROOK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 485 Cherry Bottom Road, Gahanna, Ohio from 10:30am-11:30am with her funeral service beginning at 11:30am. Pastor David Hoffman, officiating. Services will conclude with interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Donna’s family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Stonybrook United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.