Wilburn "Bud" G. Donahoo, 85 of Grand Island, passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Grand Island.

A Memorial Service will be 1:30 PM, Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Duane Fuller officiating. Full Military Honors by the Grand Island Veterans Honor Guard will be performed after the service. Burial of ashes will be at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date.

Bud was born February 7, 1933 to Clyde and Adelaine (Karr) Donahoo at Aurora, NE. He attended school in Hastings, NE and graduated from Hastings Junior High School where he was an All-State athlete in football and track.

He was united in marriage to LaDonna Gulzow on January 30, 1955 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island. This marriage was blessed with 3 children: Kimberly Jean, Melinda Kay and Therese Lynn.

He joined the United States Air Force on April 9, 1952 and was Honorably Discharged on March 11, 1954. After his service he worked in San Diego for General Dynamics Convair as a Data Analyst. He also spent time working at SeaWorld as Assistant Curator of Mammals. He was the main caretaker for Gigi the grey whale, which was the first grey whale to be housed in captivity. Bud loved raising horses, bowling, and had a great love for old western movies. He also enjoyed going to the desert to ride his dune buggy.

He was a past member of the American Legion, the Elks Lodge, and the Poway Valley Riding Association.

Bud is survived by his wife of 63 years, LaDonna; his daughters and their spouses, Kimberly and Howard Green of Jameson, MO, Melinda and Jeff Loh of Ramona, CA and Therese Nicot of Murrieta, CA; 14 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Mickey and Ronnie Griffin of Tupelo, MS; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Frank.