James Morrell McDonald was born April 17, 1921 in Abilene, Texas and died May 3, 2012 in Ft. Myers, Florida. He moved with his family from Texas to Corona at the age of 3 and lived most of his life in Southern California, until he relocated to Florida in 2008.

He graduated from Corona High School and Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo. A college student at the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and served two combat tours in the Pacific, one as a demolitions specialist assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps, the second as a deck officer on the USS Cowenesque.

After the War he returned to Cal Poly as an engineering instructor. In 1949 he moved his family to Riverside and founded a refrigeration and air conditioning business, Riverside Refrigeration, Inc., which he owned and operated successfully until he retired in 1986.

Mr. McDonald was a member of both the Cal Poly Alumni Association and American Legion Post 79 in Riverside until his death. He also belonged to Rotary International and numerous associations related to his profession. He was a member of the First Congregational Church and a dedicated supporter of Boy Scout Troop 13 in Riverside.

Mr. McDonald married the former Vera Mae Runston in 1943 and, together, they raised a family, operated their business, and supported their community. Vera McDonald died in 2005.

The couple are survived by their four married children; Greg & Peggy McDonald of Southport, NC; Dale & Karen McDonald of Acampo, CA; Mardi & Scott Fowler of Ft. Myers, FL; and Chris & Carol McDonald of Corona, CA; also, 11 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 5 step-great grandchildren.

Interment will be at Crestlawn Memorial Park on June 2nd at 11:00 AM. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Mr. McDonald’s memory to Hope Hospice of Fort Myers, Florida, www.hopehospice.org.

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