Stephen Paul McDonald

Stephen “Steve” McDonald joined his Savior on October 12, 2022, at the age of 74, after a long battle with cancer.  Steve was a quiet, steady man, devoted to Christ and his family.  Despite his quiet nature, he had a quick wit and dry sense of humor that could spark peals of laughter from his family.

He met the love of his life, Marcia Speck McDonald, on a blind date in high school.  She was a junior; he was a senior and a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol (“CAP”), a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.  While in CAP, he trained as a civilian pilot and participated in inland search and rescue missions.

The sweethearts married in 1968, and a month later, the Army shipped Steve to Thailand.  When he returned, the two moved to Maryland, where Steve taught officers and enlistees how to repair helicopters in wartime conditions.  After Steve finished his service, he and Marcia returned home to Georgia.  Steve worked for various scientific companies and then landed at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, where he served for 25 years until his retirement.

Steve was a STEM enthusiast before the term existed.  He enjoyed all things relating to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and, at any time, he had several projects underway in his workroom.  He was always tinkering with something, and he shared that passion with his children and grandchildren.  He and his sons often swapped tools and had planning sessions for various home-improvement projects.  Later in life, Steve could often be found explaining concepts to his granddaughters while helping them construct elaborate buildings or racetracks from the latest toys he’d bought for them.

Steve never stopped learning.  He had an extensive library of books, and next to his recliner a small bookstand with the latest books he was reading, usually several at once, as well as a pad and pen for note taking.  He was an avid reader of wartime history and biographies of military leaders.  But above all, his library evidenced his love for his Savior.  He had built and organized a comprehensive collection of theology resources that rivals many pastoral collections.

Steve is survived by Marcia, his beloved wife of 54 years, his sons Christopher (Valorie) McDonald of Mableton, and Andrew (Esther) McDonald of Johns Creek, and his granddaughters, Samantha, Emily, Reagan, Amelia, and Peyton McDonald.

A service to celebrate Steve’s life is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Alps Road Presbyterian Church, 380 Alps Road, Athens, Georgia 30606.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com