DONNA JEANNE (SCHRUM) CARLETON

1929 — 2017 “I lived a great life!”

Donna answered Jesus’s call to “come home” on the evening of November 13, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Jerome Carleton, DVM. Born to William and Grace Schrum on March 17, 1929 in Leonardville, Kansas, Donna was the youngest of her two siblings: Jack and Kathy. After high school she continued her education and dream of becoming a registered nurse. While in college she met Thomas. Donna and Thomas were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas in 1949. In 1953 they moved to California where they started the next chapter of their life in Lodi. They bought the Lodi Veterinary Hospital and while Donna helped at their practice she continued her nursing career all while raising a family. Her nursing career lasted for more than 50 years before retiring.

She and her husband were active in the community and church, building one of California’s first Teen Challenge, a substance abuse recovery program.

Additionally she loved to cook and was an avid baker, creating thousands of unforgettable memories for family and friends around the kitchen table. Donna has 3 children: Mary (Cici), Patrick and Michael; 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. This is just a small part of Donna’s legacy.

A celebration of life will be held at Radiant Life Church, in Lodi, Saturday, December 9th at 11am.

Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.