Richard Lynn Donaldson II
Richard Lynn Donaldson II, "Dickie," 76, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday January 4, 2018. Richard was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on February 13, 1941 to Richard Lynn Donaldson Sr. and Edith Marie Moore, both who preceded him in death. At six weeks old he and his mother joined his father in Seattle, Washington by way of troop train. Richard attended elementary and middle school in Seattle. He attended Ballard High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated in 1959 and was offered a football scholarship at the University of Washington. Richard was a self-made man and worked in the restaurant business for over 58 years. He was with The Big Boy restaurant chain as manager-supervisor in Oklahoma, Maryland, Arizona, and New Mexico for ten years. He opened the Coronado Center Vips Big Boy store in 1964 along with stores in Las Cruces, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. He was with Long John Silver for three and a half years in Oklahoma and New Mexico where he was a manager-supervisor and opened six - seven stores. In 1977, Richard joined the Sonic Drive In chain as an owner-manager of the Los Altos Sonic Drive In located at 825 Eubank NE. He actively worked the Los Altos store for 40 years until his passing. He was the recipient of countless awards from Sonic Industries and M & D Industries including number one Sonic for several years.
Richard married Vicki Diamond on February 3rd, 1968 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Richard was a member of the Annunciation Catholic Parish, a member of the Elks Lodge #461 in Albuquerque, and the Ballard High School Alumni Association in Seattle, Washington. He was a past member of the St. Pius Booster Club, the University of New Mexico Booster Club, and a sponsor of many youth, high school, and college athletics. Richard, known to his grandchildren as "Papa" was a huge fan of Mickey Mantle and the New York Yankees as well as the Oklahoma Sooners. Above all, he was a true family man and loved his three girls. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; by daughters, Mandy Donaldson Pitre and husband Bob, Jamie Mulville and husband Tommy; by three grandchildren, Cohen and Jax Mulville, Greyse Pitre, and Riley the granddog, all of Albuquerque; by his brother, John Edward Donaldson of Albuquerque; by his cousin, Bette Newton Gregory and husband Richard of Albuquerque; five nephews, all of Oklahoma City; and many cousins.
Services for Richard include a Rosary Thursday, January 11th, 2018, 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH Lomas, a Funeral Mass on Friday, January 12th, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Annunciation Catholic Church, 2532 Vermont St. NE, and a reception to celebrate his life immediately following the Mass at Sonic Drive In, 825 Eubank NE from 11:45 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Richard to the New Mexico Heart Institute, 502 Elm St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Please visit our online guestbook for Richard at www.FrenchFunerals.com FRENCH - Lomas 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 505.275.3500 www.frenchfunerals.com