McDONALD, Ethel Lillian “Lil”

July 13, 1926 ~ January 6, 2016

Ethel Lillian “Lil” McDonald, 89, of Pearisburg, VA went to be with the Lord on Wednesday January 6, 2016 at Commonwealth Assisted Living in Christiansburg, VA.  Lillian was born on July 13, 1926 in Kimballton, VA in Giles County and was the daughter of the late George Blake McDonald, Sr. and Margaret Robertson McDonald.  Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother and sister-in-law, George Blake “G.B.” McDonald, Jr. and wife Mary Douglas McDonald, her grandmother, Ethel Eaton Robertson whom she lived with while attending Pearisburg High School “where she was a basketball star”, and one niece, Martha McDonald Moretz.  Lillian graduated from Pearisburg High School and attended Bluefield College.  She worked for a short while at the Celanese Corp. in Narrows and retired from the Giles County School Board office after 30 years of service where she served as a clerk.  She was an avid wood carver who belonged to the Wood Carvers Guild and participated in shows and competitions winning many awards.  Lillian loved gardening, camping, feeding and taking care of her backyard birds. Throughout the years she always had a dog that was special to her that she cared for and loved.  She will be remembered by her family and friends for her joking nature and her witty personality.  She is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Robert H. “Bob” and Shirley G. McDonald of Salem; three nieces, Becky McDonald Frame and husband Edsel of Christiansburg; Diane McDonald and husband Michael Smith of Boulder, CO; Brenda McDonald of Roanoke; great niece, Sarah Frame of Blacksburg; special great niece and caregiver, Erin Moretz of Pembroke; great nephews, Bryan Moretz of Orlando, FL; Nathan Smith of Boulder, CO; and nephew-in-law, Perry Moretz of Vinton.  Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 1:00pm at the Givens Funeral Chapel in Pearisburg with the Rev. Pamela Sutherland officiating with burial following in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the Givens Funeral Home in Pearisburg Friday evening from 5 – 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Big Stoney United Methodist Church c/o Donna Altizer, 3993 Gravely Hill Road, Ripplemead, VA 24150.  Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com.