Mr. Donovan Sandidge's Obituary
Through the love and marriage of John Mayburn Sandidge and Bertha Mae Hobbs: Donovan Branch Sandidge was born March 21, 1923 in Houston, Texas. Donnie had two brothers and two sisters: Francis Benton "Chuck", Mary Avis "Tommie”, Bobby John and Reba Nell. Loving husband, caring father, a gallant and gentle man, Donnie met Our Lord and Savior March 26, 2018.
Donnie married the love of his life, Marie, on May 5, 1951, always saying “it was love at first sight”. Their marriage of 66 years created five daughters: Mamie Toupin, Donna Napoleon, Elaine Dimitt, Patricia Rice and Melissa McNeece. Nine grandchildren: Jason Dimitt, Mistie Bosley Remling, Stephani Womack, Elizabeth Napoleon, Donovan Napoleon, Alexandria Garza, Elaina Garza, Stevie Duncan, and Randy Rice, as well as seventeen great-grandchildren.
Losing his father during The Great Depression, Donnie was forced to leave school and help support his family by picking cotton to survive. At age 15, his mother lied about his age so he could join the Civilian Conservation Corps, which would provide additional money for the family. While working for the CCC, he built roads, fought forest fires, and assisted in the construction of many of our State Parks in Texas. When Donnie turned 18, he entered the United States Army and was assigned to the 7th Calvary and stationed at Fort Bliss, where he patrolled the Texas / Mexico Border on horseback. During WW II, fighting in the Pacific Theater, Donnie saw action in many locations including: Australia, New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea, The Admiralty Islands, Leyte, Luzon, Samara and Mindolwn. At the end of WWII, Donnie became a Merchant Marine and continued his world travels, always making sure his mother and siblings were cared for. As if that wasn’t enough for any one man, after ending his service as a Merchant Marine, Donnie became an over-the-road truck driver where he spent his next 32 years enjoying the vistas of the great American countryside.
Donnie was a member of several organizations including the Elks Lodge, American Legion Post 236, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7109, and The Disabled American Veterans Organization Chapter 195, where he was a charter member. He joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars while stationed in the Philippines and his original post home was in Bay City, Texas. Most notably, Donnie is known for his work at the VFW Post 7109 in Pearland, Texas, becoming a life member in 1974 and serving in numerous capacities, including Post Commander, for 5 years. Donnie also volunteered for many years at The Veterans Admiration Hospital in Houston, Texas.
In retrospect, when you look at Donnie’s life, you see a man who was always doing for others ahead of himself, a kind and generous man. It seems Donnie learned this lesson early in life as he would often tell, how, after being in the CCC and not seeing his mother and siblings for over a year, he decided to go home for a visit. Donnie got as far as the Houston, Texas bus station but was out of money and couldn’t go further on the bus. As he started his long and hungry walk to Sweeny, he was met by the Salvation Army. They took him in and fed him a meal, cut his hair, gave him clean clothes, new shoes and a bus ticket to Sweeny. He never forgot their help and never passed up a Salvation Army kettle without putting whatever money he had on him in it.
Donnie is preceded in death by his father, John Mayburn Sandidge, mother, Bertha Mae Moore, brothers, Francis Benton Sandidge, Bobby John Sandidge, sisters Mary Avis Metz, Reba Nell Farlow, daughter Melissa McNeece, granddaughters, Alexandria Garza and Elaina Garza and his beloved and faithful Foxy.
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