Jeremiah John “Bubba” Donovan, 77, of Dunkirk, MD, passed away on June 3, 2024, at his home. Born on January 4, 1947, in Rhode Island, he was the son of Jeremiah F. Donovan and Mary Jane (Goff) Donovan.

Bubba was truly one of a kind! He never met a stranger and he was always the life of the party. At the young age of 19, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War as a sharpshooter/ radio operator in the infantry between 1967-1968. During his service, Bubba was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He had a natural talent for baseball so following his discharge, he went on to play minor league baseball as short stop and pitcher for the Washington Senators (later known as the Texas Rangers). A serious knee injury wouldn’t allow him to play further. His continued love and great passion for the sport was lived out by playing softball with local teams Largo Exxon and the Marquis Restaurant.

Bubba worked most of his life in construction and as a sales rep for Tab Distributing Company. He finished out his career in the meat department at Andrew’s Air Force Base Commissary.

Bubba loved to talk, sing, dance, drink Miller Lite, and watch sports. In the summer, you could usually find him on a golf course or spending time fishing in Chincoteague, VA. Or Ocean City, MD. He was a bit of a drifter, but many have fond memories from his time in Shady Side and Deale singing karaoke at Snug Harbor and Skippers Pier. “Unchained Melody” and “Under the Boardwalk” were his favorite and famous melodies. He was also a member of the Shady Side Moose Lodge and he loved when it rained.

Later in life, he had the opportunity to reside with his daughters, first with Kacy and her family and then with Sabrina and her family. This time brought as much joy to his daughters and grandchildren as it did him. He came to love and trust Jesus and he loved all his family with his whole heart.

Bubba loved people! So if you had him as a friend, you had a friend for life.

He is survived by his 6 children, Timothy “Mike” Donovan, Mary “Katrina” Donovan, Sabrina Welch (Shane), Kacy Donovan (Robert), Jane Holcomb and his forever cowgirl, Sydney Glenn; his 13 grandchildren, Nichole, Jourdan, Andrew, Zayd, Zachary, Faith, Fallyn, Sofia, Simon, Savannah & Griffin (his bestest friends), Scarlett, and Ryker; and his love, Caryn Glenn.

Bubba is preceded in death by his ex-wife Jan Donovan; his parents, Jeremiah and Mary Donovan; and his siblings Betty Rowley, Paulette Seminara, and Jackie Donovan.

Services for Bubba will be held on Friday, June 21st at 10:30am at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Hwy, Cheltenham, MD 20623, and a repast celebration of life will be held immediately following at Calvert Grace Church, 9870 Old Solomon’s Island Road, Owings, Maryland.

If you knew Bubba, you knew what a character he was! The family would love for you to come and share all your memories following the service at the celebration of life at Calvert Grace.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests donations be made to the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your prayers, love and support these past two years.