Robert Marvin Donaldson

Robert Marvin Donaldson Obituary

In the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 2026, our father, Robert Marvin Donaldson ("Bob"), a.k.a. "Mr. Perfkt," passed perfectly peacefully in his sleep. We imagine he woke to a beautiful vision of our mother and sister standing before him, hands outstretched to welcome him home. He was a wonderful father, full of love and laughter who believed in us and taught by his example.

Bob was born in Salt Lake City in 1934 to Mary and Laurence "Kurlie" Donaldson. The family moved back and forth between Salt Lake and Los Angeles until 1944 when they settled in Gardena, California. He spent his summers as a kid fishing every day while staying in Lone Pine with his cousins. He worked helping his father and grandfather in their auto repair shop, eventually becoming a full partner with his father as a mechanic for a time. Bob graduated from Leuzinger High School in 1952 and joined the Army, completing Basic Training and Officers Candidate School. After his service in the military, he headed to college while working at Douglas Aircraft and attending dances at the Institutes of Religion at USC and El Camino college. It was at one of these dances where he met Rita Jean Harris. They married in the Los Angeles Temple on September 13, 1958, and over the next almost 50 years of marriage they raised 6 children, lived in 4 different cities and became grandparents to 18 grandchildren.

Bob graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Business and went on to work in many different businesses including Mattel Toys, Van De Kamp Bakeries, Pacific Lighting, Shell, and eventually started his own business, Executive Career Services. He helped start the Orange County Chapter of the National Human Resources Association, which grew from a humble 25 members to more than 1500 members under his leadership. After 23 years he sold ECS in 2003 and retired to Saint George, Utah, enjoying the summers with Rita at their cabin on Cedar Mountain.

After Rita passed away in 2007, Bob married Vickie Blackburn in 2009 and they spent the past 17 years together laughing, traveling, serving a LDS mission in the Tennessee Nashville Mission, and spending summers finishing the cabin in Tommy Creek.

Bob was an avid woodworker and car enthusiast, with notable achievements including building the only dome cabin in Tommy Creek and restoring a vintage pickup with his grandson, Conner. He also built furniture and helped renovate multiple homes. He enjoyed deep discussions and lighthearted teasing, but he particularly excelled at puns. What Bob cherished most of all were his relationships with family and friends. He loved calls and visits with loved ones and prioritized attending his grandchildren's special events and supporting them in their interests as much as possible. He carefully cultivated his friendships, and in his later years, this included a close group of friends, "the boys", here in St. George, with whom he regularly enjoyed going out to lunch.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Rita Jean, daughter Linda Deanne Fleming, and grandson Courtney Fleming. He is survived by his wife, Vickie Donaldson; children, Robert Martin Donaldson, Laurel (Nelson) Hafen, Melodie (Mark) Leon, Mike Fleming, Cheri Sutherland, and Michael (Robyn) Donaldson; Sister, Roberta Klinck; stepchildren, Erika (John) Reyes, Dana (Bosun) Olatunji, Logan (Liz) Blackburn, Skylar (Adrienne) Blackburn, and Tanner Blackburn. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary located a 110 South Bluff Street, st George, Utah. Services will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Morningside LDS chapel, 930 South Morningside Drive, Saint George, Utah. Visitation will be held from 9:00 - 10:30 am with the funeral services from 11:00 am to noon. Burial will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, Saint George, UT at 12:30 pm.

Condolences and Memories can be shared with the family online at www.Spilsburymortuary.com on Robert's obituary page.

Service will be broadcast online at the following link below:
Time: Apr 11, 2026 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94022332453?pwd=N4dV6rFc2raLynmaYwpz2aKhAqJq5b.1
Meeting ID: 940 2233 2453
Passcode: 538953