C. Eileen Donovan

C. Eileen Donovan, 86, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2022. Survived by her husband of 63 years, Thomas “Tom” Z. Donovan and their three children, Carol Lowery (Bob), Tom Donovan Jr. (Kimberley) and Patrick Donovan. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Catherine “Cassie” Lowery (Jim Newman), and her brother, Earl Hays (Glenda). She was preceded in death by her parents, Eldredge and Iva Hays, and her brother, Dean Hays. Born January 18, 1936 in Bucklin, Missouri, Eileen grew up on a farm in Marceline, Missouri and was active in the First Baptist Church and the 4-H club. She loved learning, had perfect penmanship, and graduated with honors from Marceline High School in 1954 and Truman State University in 1958. In college she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and Alpha Phi Sigma, Kappa Delta Pi, Pi Omega Pi, and Cardinal Key scholastic and honor societies. Her passion for learning led her back into the classroom as a high school teacher in Mexico, Missouri and then Virginia High School in Virginia, Illinois. She took great pride in being a teacher, and especially loved hearing from past students on how she had positively affected their lives. After her marriage to Tom in 1959, they moved frequently in support of Tom’s career with the Army and then the Defense Department. They started out with three months at Fort Lee, in Petersburg, Virginia, followed by moves to St. Louis, Missouri, Toledo, Ohio and Washington D.C., where she worked for the National Academy of Sciences (Space Science Board). Next, they moved to Battle Creek, Michigan where Carol and Tom were born. They returned to St. Louis and added Patrick to the family. Then came a move to Sierra Vista, Arizona, followed by a return to Michigan and finally to Columbus, Ohio until Tom’s retirement from the Defense Logistics Agency. In Columbus, she worked as a substitute teacher in the Gahanna and New Albany school districts. Eileen’s abundance of patience and unflappable nature were evident throughout all their travels, and invaluable when moving across country with three small children. After retirement, Tom and Eileen spent 23 happy years in Mount Dora, Florida where Eileen loved to swim in their pool and was active in many organizations including Women’s Club, Book Club, Gardening Club and St Patrick’s Catholic church. She also worked to raise money for Hospice, and P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization), which provides scholarships, grants, awards, and loans to help women enhance their lives through learning. Eileen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and loved reading, gardening, musical theater, movies, traveling, sewing, and spending time with those she loved. They returned to Columbus last year to be closer to family. A private service will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Lewis Center, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Foundation of America, www.hospicefoundation.org, or checks may be made out to P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter BB, c/o Jean Cahill, 5109 Rishley Run Way, Mt Dora, FL 32757, or donate online to P.E.O. International, donations.peointernational.org. Day Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of C. Eileen Donovan.

C. Eileen Donovan

January 18, 1936 - September 22, 2022