James F. Donahue

March 18, 1925 - April 19, 2016

James “Jim” Frederick Donahue, 91, died peacefully in the evening on April 19, 2016 while visiting family in Washington, Illinois. He was born on March 18, 1925 in Elmira, NY, to James and Laura Donahue. He married Lucile Palmer on August 31, 1946. He was a longtime resident of DeWitt, Vestal, and Kirkville, NY, and Delray Beach, FL, where he lived since leaving his childhood home of Horseheads, NY. He served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, and then returned home to work for New York Telephone for almost forty years, retiring as a supervising engineer. Jim was active in the community, serving as a volunteer firefighter in Horseheads and Dewitt, on the vestry at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Syracuse, and as volunteer at the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, the Eastern Star Home in Oriskany, NY, and the Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, FL. Jim loved to go for long rides with Lucy and play golf with his grandkids. Most of all, Jim was a loving husband, father, and grandfather with a wonderful sense of humor who was deeply dedicated to his family and friends. Jim is survived by his wife of 69 years, the former Lucile Palmer; three children, Sharon (Raymond) Houck, William (Patricia) Donahue, and Timothy (Amy) Donahue; two sisters, Josephine Larson and Anita Donahue; a brother, Ray Donahue; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and nine nieces and nephews, all beloved. A private service was held in Peoria, IL. The family would like to thank Jim’s many friends who have shared and will continue to share their remembrances. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Chittenango, NY. Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s name to Special Olympics of Illinois at 605 East Willow St, Normal, IL 61761 or Washington Christian Village at 1201 Newcastle Rd, Washington IL 61571 or www.chigift.org, to help those who cannot pay for their care. Arrangements by the B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, Camillus, NY. Please sign the guestbook at www.BLBUSH.com