Richard Earl MacDonald III, 77, of Ocoee, Florida, was called to Heaven on Saturday, July 22, 2023, after his battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Richard was surrounded by family, including his wife Kitty of 54 years.
Richard was born on March 11th, 1946, in Albany, New York. Richard was the son of the late Richard MacDonald Jr & Patricia (Klein) MacDonald. He is preceded by his siblings, Michael MacDonald, Margaret MacDonald, and Barbara (MacDonald) Finnegan.
Richard’s story is one of service, dedication, and passion. As a Veteran of the United States Army, he served his country as a surgical tech with combat training in the 7th MASH Unit stationed in Germany. He later continued his service in the United States Army Reserves. After leaving the Military Service, he pursued his passion for the medical field, becoming a Perioperative Surgical Nurse. Throughout his career, Richard made many friends, built strong work relationships, and brought joy to those around him. His dedication to his work was unwavering, and he retired from Orlando Health after 48 years in the field. He proudly retired as a surgical trainer and mentor, impacting many surgical nurses, techs, and other staff. Richard is a shining example of the impact one person can have through hard work and dedication.
Richard found his true love and a soulmate in Kathleen (Phillips) MacDonald, his beloved spouse whom he married on June 18th, 1969. Richard and Kitty have dedicated their lives to spreading kindness and generosity to others, as evidenced by their actions and strong faith in God. Together, they have successfully raised four remarkable children, Richard MacDonald IV and his lovely wife Marianne, Christina (MacDonald) Fisher, Anne (MacDonald) Aide and husband Edward, and Jonathan MacDonald. The couple’s love has also brought forth eight wonderful grandchildren: Devvon, James, Shawn, Carter, Elleanna, Ian, Ethan, and Madison. Richard and Kitty have been known to open their hearts and home to family members over the years, whom they consider their bonus kids, niece and nephews, Sarah, Robert, and (late) Daniel.
Richard enjoyed spending time with his beloved family, sailing, photography, renovating his own home and the homes of others, watching and attending NASCAR races, and traveling when time allowed. He was always dedicating his time to others, including the local food bank and his church, and thinking about how to help someone else. His time and his heart were always full.
“You will be missed beyond words. Your presence as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and spiritual guide has left a deep mark on our family. We are eternally grateful for the strong foundation you have laid for us, and we pledge to honor your memory through hard work, community service, kind deeds, card playing, laughter, and, as Richard would say, ‘Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.’ We miss you, love you, and will see you again someday in Heaven.”