The Passing of Longtime Pomona Resident Donnie Joe Washington

Pomona, CA--Family, friends and the community will celebrate the life, legacy and love of Donnie Joe Washington who recently passed away. The viewing will be Thursday 9/7/17 from 4-7 p.m. and Funeral Friday 9/8/17 at 11 a.m., Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2343 N. San Antonio Ave. Pomona, CA 91767

Donnie Joe Washington was born December 13, 1948 in Colorado City, Texas, to James and Hazel Mae Washington. He was one of several children born into a large family.

He enjoyed spending time with his very close knit immediate family and extended family members. He loved and always wanted to be a cowboy so he had a pair of boots that he wore the heels down completely. He would wear them and his cowboy hat every day if he could.

His family and grandparents knew the Plummer family who also lived in Texas and later moved to California before the Washington’s did. Donnie’s family moved from Texas in 1956, to Pomona, CA. He attended local elementary, Jr. High and High School and excelled well. After the families having known each other for so many years, Donnie would later marry his high school sweetheart Annie Doris Plummer on October 19, 1968. When they were children they would play ‘house’ together, and then would eventually get married and have a real house. The long-time residents of Pomona knew Donnie and his family very well.

When he was younger he and his family attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pomona. As an adult, Donnie would later become a member of Bethel Temple Community Church, Victory Community Church and Antioch Missionary Baptist Church where he attended until declining health prevented him from attending regularly.

Donnie was well known for his great fishing skills, working on cars and his ‘green thumb’ in gardening. He had many hobbies including collecting baseball hats, watching NFL games, cooking shows, working on word search puzzles and especially watching old Westerns on TV. Donnie loved family gatherings and spending time with all of his family. He loved all genres of music, especially old traditional southern gospel music. At any given time you would see him tapping his feet and singing along to his favorite songs.

Donnie worked several jobs and gained knowledge and skills from all of his occupations. He worked at Parker Tolle & Thompson, Pomona Tile Company, Mattel Toy Company and Industrial Bathtub Manufacturer. He later went on to earn a license in Electronic and VCR Repairs.

He was a faithful and loving husband of his beloved Annie Doris Plummer Washington for over 48 years of marriage.

Donnie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin and a very caring friend to so many. He leaves to cherish his memory three surviving children, Raymond O’Dale Washington (Robin) of Avondale, AZ, Joann Washington of Pomona, CA, and Jo Ella Washington of Ontario, CA.

He leaves behind six grand-children, (3 granddaughters) Christina, Mariah, and Erin, (3 grandsons) Michael, Dante and Kendric. He leaves one God-daughter, Willanda Whitaker and a special “Buddy” Phillip ‘J-Pay’ McCullough, Jr.

He leaves to cherish his memory eight surviving siblings, Carl James (Carmen) of Pomona, CA, James Washington (Ann) of Cleveland, OH, Shirley Edmond of Pomona, CA, O.V. Washington (Jimmy Davis) of San Bernardino, CA, Linda Benton of Diamond Bar, CA, Joyce Collins (Bradford) of Rialto, CA, Jackie Brady (Dave) of Cleveland, OH and James Eddie Washington of Pomona, CA. One uncle Raymond Randle of Pomona, CA

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents James and Hazel Washington, his grandparents Herman and O.V. Randle, his aunts and uncles, Mardee Randle, Edgar Randle, Vera Randle Giles, Herman Randle, Mattie Randle Boone, Annie Washington, and Virgie Marks, and sister, Bettie Jean Washington Million.

In the afternoon on August 28, 2017, this loving, gentle, kind, man of integrity, strong, loyal, faithful and compassionate child of God answered the call of our Heavenly Father, took His hand and left this earth. Donnie had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and his soul is not lost.

He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. The legacy he left will continue through his offspring and the many lives he touched.