Agnes Grace McDonald died peacefully of lung cancer on the morning of April 11, 2015 at her home in Lusby Maryland in the care and comfort of her daughter, Rita Dickson. Agnes was 89 years old.

Agnes was born in Stonega, Virginia on June 14, 1925. She was the third girl and sixth child of the late Will and Margaret Sturgil Eller. She grew up a coal miner’s daughter in Wise County Virginia, and at age 17 she read an advertisement in the Coalfield Progress by a government contractor for workers 18 and older near Washington DC. She saw that ad as her ticket out of the poor Southwestern Virginia economy of the time, so she fibbed about her age, and with butterflies in her stomach, she boarded the bus for Riverdale, Maryland where she landed a job with Engineering Research Corporation (ERCO) building military aircraft parts. She met her late husband, Billie S. McDonald (USN, retired) from Pendergrass, GA at a Riverdale diner and they married 6 weeks later on March 27, 1943. Their marriage lasted nearly 66 years.

During her husband’s 20-year Navy career, they lived in Elizabeth City NC, Norfolk VA, Brunswick Maine, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, and Lexington Park MD. In 1979, they relocated permanently to Lusby MD. She was co-owner of McDonald Flying Service at the former Park Hall Airport where she learned to fly in her early forties. At the age of 60, after raising five children, she earned her real estate license and became a successful, award-winning Southern Maryland realtor for the next 23 years.

Agnes was an independent, courageous, determined, and self-made woman. She loved her country and she was passionate about its future and security. She had a great wit, and she loved a good time. She tried many things in her life but the most significant and constant influence on her and witness to those she loved was her steadfast faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, which sustained her through all.

She is survived by her children, Rita Dickson of Quakertown PA, Thomas McDonald (Kathleen) of Weisenberg Township PA, and Douglas McDonald (Erika) of Falls Church VA; her grandchildren Lance Gunderson of Gloversville NY, Jeff Dickson (Annemarie) of Warminster PA, Sean Dickson (Cathy) of Quakertown PA, Melissa Taylor (Phil) of Richmond VA, Christine McDonald of Weisenberg Township PA, Zachary McDonald of Weisenberg Township PA, Elise McDonald of Falls Church VA, and Coen McDonald of Falls Church VA as well as 12 great-grand children and 6 great-great-grand children.

She is also survived by her nephew Billy Jones (Nancy) of Duffield VA, her niece Cindy McDonald of Duluth Georgia, her nephew Paul McDonald (Sue) of Stockbridge GA, her nephew Charles McDonald of Baxley GA, her great-niece Gena Prince (Bill) of Bristol TN, her great-niece Beverly McGee (Matt) of Murfreesboro TN, and numerous other nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

In addition to her parents and siblings, Herman, Georgia “Dodge,” James, Arthur, and Geneva, Agnes was preceded in death by her son Billy McDonald Jr. in 1989, her granddaughter Jennifer Gray in 2002, her son-in-law David Dickson in 2004, her husband Billie McDonald in 2009, and her daughter Judy McDonald in 2014.

Her surviving family would like to thank all of mom’s friends, the Southern Calvert Baptist Church, her doctors, and the Calvert Hospice staff for their heartfelt love and care during these last months of her life.

Services will take place at Southern Calvert Baptist Church located at 2140 H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby, Maryland on April 20, 2015. There will be a family visitation from 9AM to 10AM and a public visitation from 10AM to 11AM. The funeral service will begin at 11AM. The burial service will be at Arlington Cemetery at a later date, TBD, attended by her closest surviving family.

At the family’s request, flowers are welcome and contributions can be made to Kings Christian Academy, 20738 Point Lookout Rd, Callaway, MD 20620.