Donna's obituary
Donna Jean Zimmer (Longnecker), 80, went home to Jesus on April 23, 2022, after a long battle with illness. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She and Gerald Gilstrap enjoyed over 30 years of being a family, loving one another and their combined children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Donna was the daughter of Alton Lewis Longnecker and Madalyn Laverne Longnecker(Birch), and born on November 8, 1941. She was raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and went to Johnstown High School. She was active in dance, and had a large group of close friends there. She met and married Ronald Kelly and they moved to Chester County Pennsylvania where they lived for a couple of decades and had 4 children together.
She moved to Florida and worked as a Florist at Publix Supermarket for a number of years. Donna was very talented in creative pursuits, she painted, was a published poet, a wonderful cook, she loved gardening and plants and was an animal lover with many pets in her lifetime. Her most defining characteristics were generosity and love. She will be remembered most for that love and her care of others.
She was a member of Lifeway Community Church in Sanford Florida. She is predeceased by her parents Alton and Madalyn Longnecker, her first husband Ronald Kelly, her second husband Bert Zimmer, her sister Shirley Fairman, her brother Robert Longnecker and his wife Ann, her daughter Lois Kelly and her granddaughter Lacey Kelly.
She is survived by Gerald Gilstrap, Her brother Richard Longnecker and his wife Joan. her brother in law Nelson Fairman, her sister in law Lois Groman and her husband Robert, her sister in law Judy Wingard, her children Victoria Dorotiak, Karen Blevins and Stormy Doney, Ronald Kelly and Rebeccah Bruno, Her step children, Jason, Eddie and Joy Gilstrap and Amy and Cliff Riker, her grandchildren Bron Blevins, Kara Kelly, Kimberly Blevins, Lindsey Fuentes, Michael Fuentes and his wife Samantha, Sarah (Kitty) Lawson, Christopher Riker and Noah Riker. Many loved nieces and nephews and their children, and many great grandchildren who were all adored by Donna.
A Celebration of her life, will be held at:
LIfeway Community Church, 2462 S. Park Avenue, Sanford Florida 32771, on May 21, 2022, at one o'clock p.m.
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