Wendell Louis Donahoo peacefully passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the age of eighty-six, at his own home in Lubbock, Texas, surrounded by his loving wife and family. Wendell was a quiet, gentle man who made a life’s work of caring for those he loved.
He was blessed to spend 63 years with his wife, Margie, as they built a family that extends to four generations. Wendell met the love of his life while attending Howard Payne University. He was a frequent visitor to the Brownwood corner drugstore where he would order “extra thick” chocolate milkshakes from the lovely waitress, Margie. After courting for three years, they were married in 1960.
While their married life began in Brownwood, he spent most of his life in Lubbock, Texas. Wendell worked for the department store, Levine’s, in various locations across Texas, and retired multiple times before finally retiring from the from the Broadway Levine’s location. He was well known by the downtown Lubbock business community as a man with integrity and a strong work ethic. While he was a dedicated, hard-working man, his top priority was always family. He taught his three daughters two valuable lessons with the phrase, “There is a reason why I get a paycheck to come to work.” First that you must earn what you get, and second, to know your value.
Wendell was an avid sports fan – with his beloved Texas Tech Red Raiders always his #1 team, and the Cowboys in second place, depending on their performance that season! With sports, it did not matter if it was basketball, football, or baseball season, he was cheering for Texas Tech, and loved nothing more than a victory over the Longhorns. His passion for basketball, in particular, has been shared across all generations – and has created so many great memories to cherish.
His other favorite activity was reading – which he has also passed on to his family. He was a regular visitor to the Lubbock Public Libraries and enjoyed a trip to the library on a weekly basis to indulge this delight. There was never a time when he did not have two or three books on his nightstand table.
Wendell is survived by his wife, Margie Donahoo and his three daughters, Debbie Saller (Bill), Shiryl Tompkins (Lynn) and Carol Voit (Mike). Also mourning their loss are the grandchildren, Jennifer Kizziah (Daniel), Garrett Tompkins, Ethan Voit (Olivia), Kellin Tompkins (Payton) and Emma Voit, as well as four great-children, Adelaide, Eli, Elizabeth, and Asher Kizziah. A man of quiet faith, his life demonstrates “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7.
Wendell will be memorialized with a graveside service at the Greenleaf cemetery in Brownwood, Texas at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 28th.
