DONALD HENRY MCLAUGHLIN May 27, 1934 – Sept. 16, 2023
Donald Henry McLaughlin, 89, of Los Alamos, NM, passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023.
Donald was born May 27,1934; the second of seven children. He would proudly add he was so impatient to get started on his story that he was his mom’s only home birth.
Donald was born and grew up in Lafayette, Indiana. He was welcomed by his father, William Raymond McLaughlin, and Mother, Frances Rovine (Jenkins) McLaughlin.
Spending time with Donald would give you a glimpse of a time when gentlemen wore ties, hats and always had a clean hankie in their pocket. He let the ties and hats go, but never the hankie. His wife, Dorothy Mae (Hartman) McLaughlin, of 48 years, passed away in 2002. Donald saw Dorothy in a cafe with some friends, he insisted that his buddy introduce him to “that beautiful woman,” because he planned to marry her. Marry her he did!
Donald and Dorothy unconditionally loved, nurtured, educated and delighted in the 6 children they raised together. If asked what each of his 6 children remember about their dad, one thing in common would be his hankie. That hankie was always present. It wiped tears, cleaned dirty hands, along with messy faces, and made colds better. They all grew up knowing his hankie was in his pocket just in case, and that gave them comfort.
Donald grew up working with his grandfather, William Henry Jenkins. William owned a waste removal company. This early job gave Donald the education and experience he later used to enter management jobs for Waste Management and Watts Trucking. Donald proudly served in the Army as a Private First Class Military Specialist.
When Donald retired, he moved to Los Alamos where he became known as Grandpa to all he met. Grandpa took great pride in setting up his woodshop. The day he found a plan for building children’s picnic tables was the day he found his retirement calling. His free time was spent in the shop building picnic tables, teaching young people about woodworking, and completing other projects for family and friends. The ever-present hankies came in handy when he nicked his fingers, because as Grandpa would say, “They are better than a bandaid.”
Grandpa was preceded in death by his beloved wife Dorothy, oldest son Donald Henry and youngest son Michael Allen. He will always be remembered by his children: Deborah (Hornback) McLaughlin, Martin Dean McLaughlin, partner Victoria, Winifred Ann (McLaughlin) Lamartine, partner Bruce, Christine Marie (McLaughlin) Blanks, partner Marty, Andrea Lynn McLaughlin Kysar, partner Bill. Grandchilidren: Heather, Chris, Donald, Selena, Chris, Danielle, Marcela, Paz, Ian, Nicole, Jeff, Nora, Joshua, Roisin, Grady, Amber, Scott, Autumn, Jason, Ariel, Adam, Shelby, Dillian, Dominick, Milo, Eileen, KL. Great Grandchildren: Dylan, Payton, Madeleine, Jameson, Riley, Daisy, Sklya, Mya, Hunter, Briley, Hailey, Avery, Jailyn, Eleana, McCoy. Brother-in-law Kenny Thomas, niece Eileen Loro, and niece Sandra Kay McLaughlin of Lafayette. His genuine smile and love of others will be missed by his good friend Bob Forsyth and his church family.
Services celebrating Grandpa’s life will be held at:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – Day Saints White Rock Ward, at 10 a.m. Saturday Nov. 11, 2023. 366 Grand Canyon Drive White Rock, NM 87547.
