George Frederick Donnell, 97 passed away on 9/17/2019, in Ozark, Missouri. He was born on 7/10/1922 in the house built by his grandfather, Charles F. Palmer, in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Arlene Compton Donnell; his parents, Alonzo McWilliams Donnell, Sr. and Charlotte Fredericka (Palmer) Donnell; and his three siblings: Alonzo McWilliams "Mac" Donnell, Jr., Marjorie Donnell Easterly and Alice Donnell Guelker.  He is survived by children: Ron and Patricia Donnell, Cave Creek , AZ; Jan and Phillip Hockensmith, Springfield, MO; Fred and Charlotte Donnell, Billings, MO; Greg and Jacquelyn Donnell, Springfield, MO; eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren: Kathy and Trevor Jacklin and son John, Glendale, AZ; Jason and Amanda Donnell and daughters Logan and Madelyn, Crane, MO; Brandon and Michele Bridgeforth, Leland, NC and sons Spencer and Stewart; Chris and Wendy Donnell and son Quinn, South Orange, NJ; Jeff and Nichole Donnell, Southlake, TX; Andrew and Ashley Bridgeforth and Emma, Eli, Izzy and Lily, Bellingham, WA; Corey Donnell and son Silas Springfield, MO; Kari and Brandon Clevenger and Hadley, Raymore, MO.

George attended Blue Mountain schools through high school. He then attended college at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. He enlisted in the army in October 1942 which allowed him to finish his degree before reporting for service. George began basic training at Fort McClellan Alabama in mid-April 1943. During the last week of basic training a marksmanship contest using a variety of weapons was held within the four companies of the battalion.  George won the competition and was promoted to corporal and retained as a heavy machine gun instructor at Fort McClelland when the rest of the battalion was shipped to England to prepare for the D-Day invasion.

Near the end of May 1943 George boarded a troop ship and headed to Italy. He was a squad leader for an infantry rifle squad and moved through Rome, Pisa and Florence. On October 12, 1943, about 35 miles north of Florence, George was wounded when a fragment from a mortar round tore a hole through the center of his right hand. He was treated at a series aid stations and hospitals and boarded a hospital ship on Christmas Eve to head to the United States.  The ship spent New Year's Eve in the harbor of Casablanca and reached Boston on January 10,1944.

George received treatment for his injury at a number of locations and when given a choice of Tuscaloosa, AL or Springfield, MO for his final treatments he chose O'Reilly General Hospital in Springfield.  At O'Reilly he met Arlene, and they were married on Easter Sunday April 21, 1946. George and Arlene settled in Springfield and raised their family there. They became members of University Heights Baptist Church in October 1949.  George was a letter carrier for the Post Office for over 30 years and retired from there in November 1980. After retiring George and Arlene enjoyed traveling and visited the state capitol buildings of 49 states. The capitol building in Juneau was not open when they were there.

George will be buried with full military honors for the Purple Heart recipient at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 2 PM, under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.  Contributions in his honor may be made to the Music Ministry of University Heights Baptist Church, 1010 S. National, Springfield, MO 65804.