Dave Donovan's Eulogy for his Mom, Majorie Donovan.

Marjorie's Obituary

Recorded by David Donovan on May 7th 2020.

DONOVAN, Marjorie Elaine, 100, of Lebanon, peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Otterbein Springboro Senior Life Center. Born Marjorie Miller on April 1, 1920 in Cincinnati, OH to Edward E. and Louise Valentine (nee: McKee), she lived through many major events in the arc of her long life.
She attended grade school in Hartwell and was a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School, class of 1938. At Miami University she met William Donovan of Akron, Ohio and the two of them were engaged in the spring of 1942. The war intervened: William served in the army in Europe while Marjorie taught music and later served in the United States Marine Corps in 1944 and 1945. 
In July of 1946 she married William Otis Donovan and together they began their careers in Music Education. They each received their Masters of Music Education at Columbia University in New York, diplomas signed by then Columbia University President Dwight David Eisenhower. Marjorie was a music educator for the Lebanon City School District for 26 years until her retirement in 1988. She and her husband were founding members of Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon where Marjorie served for nearly 50 years as the organist, choir director, founder and director of the Saint Patrick’s Boys Choir. Marjorie also was Chairman of the Lebanon Area Artist Series and on the Board of Directors for the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Marjorie and William were beloved music educators and, in the late 90’s, they were honored by the Lebanon City Schools in the re-naming of Lebanon Intermediate School to Donovan Intermediate, now known as Donovan Elementary.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one daughter, Katherine Ann Donovan. She is survived by her two sons David William (Carol) Donovan of Lebanon, and Daniel Dennis (Regina Flanagan) Donovan of St Paul, MN; a sister, Carlyle Otto of Bowie, MD, two nephews, George Otto and Richard (Karen) Otto; two grandchildren, Graham Douglas Donovan and Broderick Duval (Gabrielle) Donovan; two step grandchildren, Jennifer Michelle (Colt) Perry and Austin Robert (Angela) Poe; and four great grandchildren, Adrien Poe, Siena Poe, Wrangler Donovan, and Emerson Perry.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, private services will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 12:30 PM in Lebanon Cemetery. Reverend Jackie Matisse will officiate. Donations have been requested to either the St Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 232 East Main St, Lebanon, OH 45036 or to the Otterbein Hospice, 696 N St Rt 741, Lebanon, OH, 45036. There will be a memorial service held at a later date at the church.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, we encourage you to pay your respects via alternate methods, such as sending a sympathy card or a message through the online guestbook links below. Please do your part to slow the spread and follow the guidelines as prescribed by the CDC and Federal & State mandates.

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