Edith T. (Staha) McDonald

Edith T. (Sandy) McDonald passed away at her home in Port Deposit, MD, the evening of January 18th, 2023. Sandy was born on June 11th, 1926. She was raised in San Antonio, TX, by two Czechoslovakian parents, Joseph and Josephine Staha. She is preceded in death by her brother, John Staha; sister, Betty Hughes; husband, C.J.; and son, Paul Robert.

Sandy was a Girl Scout, an Eagle Scout, and played the accordion and the drums. She left High School after Pearl Harbor to begin working at the Kelly Air Force Base. In true ‘Rosie the Riveter’ fashion, she inspected the hydraulics on B25s. She volunteered at the USO on Fort Sam Houston. It was at the Officers’ Club at Fort Sam that she met then Lieutenant Crawford J. McDonald. So began a 30-plus year marriage, producing Patrick, Patricia, Paula, Paul, Pam, and grandchildren, Jennifer, Ava, Vinny, Hailey, Sean, Ted, and Rob.

After caring for the family for many years, Sandy completed her education and returned to work at the Bainbridge Naval Base, located in Port Deposit, MD, and then transferred to the Aberdeen Proving Ground where she worked in Military Pay and Processing. She retired after 20 years of service in 1989. After retirement, she volunteered at both Harford Memorial and Kirk Army Hospitals. Still staying active, she regularly attended Young at Heart, the Red Hat ‘Red Bonnet’ Society, and the Susquehanna Swinger’s Square Dance Club. She loved to travel with friends and family. She traveled often, including all over the United States, as well as to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico.

Her life was defined by unyielding service to her country and a steadfast compassion and care for others. She was thoroughly devoted to her family, her friends, and was deeply loved by her children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society and the Amedisys Foundation in care of Lee A. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, P.A., P.O. Box 766, Perryville, MD 21903-0766.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 3rd, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Both the visitation and funeral services will be held at the Lee A. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, P.A., of Perryville, MD. Interment will be in Harford Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen, MD.

A luncheon will be provided following the interment. The luncheon will be held at the American Legion Joseph L. Davis Post No. 47, 501 St. John Street, Havre de Grace, MD.

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