Frank Warner Donaldson's Obituary
Frank Warner Donaldson was born March 6, 1949, on a cool, 53º day, at the family home located at 1121 Tully Street, Memphis, TN. He was welcomed by his parents Elmer Charles and Lelia Jones Donaldson, and older brother Charles Floyd Boyd.
During his childhood he liked to play board games with his family and outside games with neighborhood children. In January of 1957, the family moved to Los Angeles, CA and lived on Normandie Avenue off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (formerly, Santa Barbara Boulevard). During these formative years he met and maintained lifelong relationships.
As a straight A student, he excelled in school and graduated one and a half years early from Manual Arts High School during the summer of 1965. Following graduation and while hanging out with friends he met, began a courtship, and dreamed, with Ms. Emily Lee Harrison. Sharing a love for education, cars, and real estate, they spent many hours driving up the coastline and through the mountains. From this courtship they brought forth their one and only child, Kayley N. Donaldson.
In 1967, Frank was baptized at Los Angeles Southern Missionary Baptist Church located on Adams Boulevard, just west of West Boulevard, pastored by Kelly Key.
Soon thereafter, Frank joined the United States Marines, where he actively served in Vietnam for two years, receiving an honorable discharge. Following the Marine Corps, Frank, who lived a life of continuous learning and growing, enjoyed reading books, swimming, horseback riding, auto racing and mechanics, and playing dominoes and cards. He shared these activities with Kayley as she grew.
In 1986 Frank welcomed his first grandson and look alike, Aldrich, in 1988 his second grandson and debater, Justin, and in 1991 his lovely and loving granddaughter, Aarica.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University at Los Angeles in Business Education with an option in Distibution Education and General Business. Frank shared that his 1st job was selling programs at Dodger’s Stadium, followed by Food Machinery & Chemical (FMC) Corps, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Rapid Transit District (RTD), Nordstrom, and in the movie industry as a Stand-in. He finished his career path at the United States Postal Service, utilizing his degree as a Mechanical Manager.
Frank met the love of his life, Amelia "Cheri", in 2008 at a school picnic for Manual Arts High School Alumni. Months later their lifelong connection began. Frank joined True Gospel Missionary Baptist Church so they could worship together and became an active member. He served as President of the Board of Directors and sang in the Senior and Brotherhood Choirs. Frank quickly became a part of Cheri’s family, spending many holidays and events laughing and having a good time. The two became one on November 1, 2017, followed by a wedding ceremony for family and friends on May 12, 2018. Frank and Cheri spent most of their time together traveling, ballroom dancing, playing Bid Whist with friends (including regularly scheduled times with the Bostonians) and enjoying life to the fullest.
Preceding Frank in death were his parents Elmer Charles Donaldson and Lelia Jones Donaldson. Left to mourn the loss of Frank are his wife Amelia “Cheri” Donaldson, brother Charles Floyd Boyd, daughter Kayley (Eric) King; grandchildren Aldrich King, Justin King, and Aarica King; 1st cousins Larry (Jacquelyn) Stanback, Estella Jordan, Clyde Carter, Freida Brown; and many other cousins of Los Angeles and Tennessee. He cherished his stepchildren Jahmal Divinity, Elisha (Reginald) Weatherton, granddaughter Mya Luckett & great-granddaughter Maliah Pickens and the entire Daniels / Divinity Family.
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