Mr. William Lindsey McDonald died June 20, 2009, after an extended illness. He was born June 7, 1927, in Florence, to the late William Ervin and Pauline Lindsey McDonald.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Carter McDonald, a retired teacher and artist; daughters, Dr. Nancy Carter McDonald of Notasulga, Alabama and Suzannah Lee Parasiliti and husband, Brian I. Parasiliti, of Florence; grandchildren, Carter McDaniel Buttram and wife Kelly of Montgomery, Lindsey Buttram Middleton and husband, Scott of Auburn, TSgt Andrew William McClellan, U.S. Air Force, Amanda Carey Holloway and husband James, of Florence, Michael McDonald Backensto of Birmingham, Brianna Parasiliti, Panama City, FL, Carmelo Anthony Parasiliti II and Brian I. Parasiliti, Jr. of Florence; great-grandsons, William Albert Middleton, Mark Alloway Middleton and August James Holloway; sister, Virginia Lee Lindsey, Florence; brothers, Jimmy Joe McDonald and wife Barbara, of Yorktown, Virginia, Thomas Glen McDonald and wife, Margo of Cloverdale, and the late Marvin Daniel McDonald, John Nelson McDonald and Bobby Jeffery McDonald.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 25, 2009 beginning at 11:00 a.m. in McDowell Hall of the First United Methodist Church, Florence, with the funeral in the Sanctuary at 1:00 p.m. held by Rev. Gary Formby and Rev. Mac Buttram. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in the Florence City Cemetery.
Bill McDonald is best known for his extensive contributions to historical research, documentation and preservation in the Shoals Area of North Alabama. He is the author of more than a dozen books, a regular contributor as a journalist for Times-Daily and East Lauderdale News, a popular speaker and lecturer, and preacher.
He was a native of Florence, a graduate of Florence State Teachers College, an active member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the Administrative Board, teacher, and historian of the Church and also of the North Alabama Conference. He served the Methodist Church in many capacities; he was a pastor of several rural churches in North Alabama.
A retired army Colonel, he served for more than 38 years in Army Reserves, including active service in World War II and the Korean War. Assignments included Provost Marshal General Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon; he graduated from the Army''s Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
He was granted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of North Alabama in 2006. The Florence-Lauderdale Library has established the William Lindsey McDonald Endowment to honor his unrelenting efforts and prodigious body of work and to provide continuation of his legacy through further study and definition of North Alabama''s rich history.
As historian for the City of Florence, he delved vigorously into the area''s historical records, and sought through personal accounts and folklore to broaden knowledge of the early inhabitants, stimulating interest in Native Americans, early settlers, Civil War veterans, former slaves, and bringing to life the heritage and wisdom of area ancestors.
He retired from TVA after 37 years. He was Chief of Budget and Cost Control Staff at the National Fertilizer Development Center.
He was chairman of the Florence Historical Board for 25 years, Greater Shoals Chapter of the National Retired Officers Association, American Legion, Alabama Historical Preservation, Inc., Alabama Preservation Alliance, Alabama Historical Commission, Friends of the Library, Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts, Sons of the American Revolution, UNA Alumni Association, Clan McDonald USA and Scotland, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
Most of all, Bill McDonald was a devout Christian, a kind and gentle man who loved his church, his friends, and family.
Memorials may be made to either the First United Methodist Church, the William Lindsey McDonald Endowment for Local History Fund at the Florence-Lauderdale Library or to the American Parkinson''s Disease Association, Inc.