LITTLE ROCK — Charles A. Donaldson wouldn’t head to Hallmark to buy cards for his family - he’d make them. Drawing religious figures and always adding a Bible verse to fit the Christmas or Easter season, Donaldson would professionally print the cards and paint the figures by hand, his niece Margaret Dunn said.
His artistic nature and caring for others influenced a 35-year career in interior design and decorating, Dunn said.
Charles Donaldson died Sunday from congestive heart failure at Baptist Health Hospice in Little Rock.
He was 90.
Donaldson was born May 11, 1920, to John Henry Donaldson and Mary Eakin Krementz Donaldson. The ninth of 10 children, Donaldson graduated from Little Rock Senior High School in 1939. He attended the University of Southern California for a year and was drafted into the army in 1941. He served in an administrative role, working in the Army Medical Corps in France during World War II, Dunn said. She said he did not see his family until his honorable discharge in 1945. Unable to alert anyone that he was coming home, after four years, he got a special greeting, Dunn said.
“He had gotten off the city bus, and he was walking to his house. ... He got about two blocks away from the house and the dog recognized him and came running to meet him,” Dunn said.
After returning home, he graduated from Hendrix College in 1948. Donaldson followed his passion for design and attended the Ray-Vogue College of Design in Chicago, Dunn said. While studying in Chicago, he gained experience in interior design and frequented the free art-gallery exhibits, Dunn said.
He returned to Arkansas to be closer to family and began a 35-year career as an interior designer and decorator, Dunn said. He began working for Blass in the furniture department and for several different stores in Little Rock, including Hearn’s Furniture. Bringing out the artist in his customers was a treat for him, Dunn said.
“He enjoyed working with people and helping them create a room or look,” Dunn said. “He enjoyed helping people bring their ideas out.”
Aside from his full-time position, Donaldson did interior designing for several high-profile people. However, his favorite project was designing his home, Dunn said.
Donaldson drew up plans and decorated his one-level house, built in 1973. Dunn said the design is very traditional, with books lining the walls and a manual typewriter displayed on his desk. However, Dunn said that among the traditional elements, there are eclectic touches, such as decorative Easter eggs, small paintings reflecting the Haitian culture and a collection of about 300 classical albums. His love for painting and photography were also evident around his home, Dunn said.
Deeply religious, Donaldson attended Fellowship Bible Church and was formerly a member of Christ Episcopal Church, both in Little Rock, where he served as a Sunday School teacher for many years, Dunn said.
Donaldson left a legacy of compassion and a love for the arts through his family, his nephew Gary Frederick said.
“He was a very gentle spirit,” Frederick said. “He introduced me and many of his nieces and nephews to the fine arts. He encouraged a deep and broad appreciation for all kinds of fine arts.”
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 06/30/2010