Donna Lee Hanna

Donna was born September 15, 1918 in her grandparents’ house in Princeton, Missouri to Thomas C. and Erda L. (Calvert) Horn. She was the eldest of 5 siblings, including Wade and Wayne (twins), Jack and Bob. During her childhood, her father (also known as Jack) worked in highway construction and they moved frequently as the work dictated. In telling her stories she often recounted how she never attended the same school two years in a row. She graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1936. Her yearbook summary stated “there are few women who become ministers, but we are sure that Donna Lee will become a good one”

In 1940, Donna worked at the candy counter in Duckwall’s five and dime in Lyons, Kansas, where she met her future husband Gerald. He gave her an engagement ring in 1941, planning to marry in December, but Pearl Harbor postponed that. She worked at Hallmark Cards while he went to Camp Roberts, California, then joined him and they married on April 2, 1942 in San Luis Obispo. While Gerald was in Europe after D-day, Donna returned to Kansas City and worked for Pratt Whitney. Gerald was discharged at Ft. Leavenworth in early 1946 and they moved west to Southern California, but in 1948 the U.S. Army invited him to return and there they remained for 17 years. Donna came to thoroughly enjoy life as an officer’s wife, including assignments in Oklahoma, Virginia and Kansas. Donna especially relished the overseas assignments to Japan and Germany.

When Gerald retired from the Army in 1965, they moved to San Jose, California, where both Donna and Gerald adjusted to civilian life, Donna working for Bank of America at Moffett Field. They retired in 1979, moving to Santa Maria on California’s Central Coast, where they were able to enjoy year-round golfing and extensive travelling, both across America and abroad. There they built the house of their dreams and enjoyed it together for 15 years until Gerald succumbed to cancer in December 1995. Donna chose to remain in Santa Maria for another 11 years, enjoying social activities and more world travelling with her friends there. In 2006, health concerns led her to move to Davis, CA where she spent her remaining years.

Donna’s many interests over the years included oil painting, sewing, bridge, golf and playing the organ. She is survived by sons Tom (Caroline) of Superior, CO and Steve (Donna) of Davis, CA, 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 11 AM Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri.