Donna Schroeder

Donna G. Schroeder died Wednesday, November 13, 2024, very unexpectedly. She was born to J. C. “Ches” and Leona Hudson Mitchell on March 15, 1942, in Gastonia, North Carolina. By the time she was two, she and Leona lived in four states, following Ches as he trained for WWII. When he was deployed, Leona and Donna moved to Hickory Grove, South Carolina, to live with Ches’s parents. After the war, and the birth of sister Virginia (Ginger) in 1946, they moved to Bessemer City, North Carolina. Donna graduated from Bessemer City High School and the University of South Carolina with a degree in Journalism / Marketing. During her lifetime and marriages, she lived in 11 states and worked for several nonprofits – the last as CEO of United Way of Northern New Mexico. She traveled as often as she could to several states and countries. 

Donna was preceded in death by parents J. C. “Ches” and Leona Hudson Mitchell; grandparents Dan and Belle Leach Mitchell, and D. F. and Margaret Gamble Hudson; Aunts Pauline Hudson Stroup, Zelma Hudson, and Mildred Hudson Rhyme; uncles Aubrey Mitchell, David Mitchell, and Alfred Hudson; first cousins Gus Stroup, Ann Stroup Certain, Cheryl Caldwell Hartsell, and Doris Ann Hudson Hart; as well as her husbands, Tom Gault, Roy Schroeder, and William Rogers. 

Donna is survived by her sister Virginia “Ginger” Patterson, her niece Ashley Patterson (Michael Withers) and nephew Duncan Patterson; her beloved Aunt Margaret H. Caldwell, and uncle Don (Lucy) Hudson, the beloved daughters Roy Schroeder brought into her life when they married, Michele (Greg) Van Hare and Shannon (Mike) Fanning; grandchildren Jason (Grace) Van Hare, Sarah Van Hare, Alison Fanning, Lizzy Fanning, and Cass Fanning; great granddaughter Magdalena Van Hare; great niece Abigail Patterson; her sister / cousin Mabel Young, and other first cousins Margaret Stroupe, Arlene Milligan, Boyce Hudson, David, Judy, and Danny Mitchell; numerous second and third cousins, as well as sisters and brothers of her heart; and her well-loved cats Dixie, Gypsy, Mister, and Beau who are grieving with us. 

The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Sisk-Butler Funeral Home on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Inurnment will be with the family. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Donna’s name to Gaston Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, 425 W Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28052 or at https://gastonspayneuter.com/.

Sisk-Butler Funeral Home is serving the Schroeder family.

To offer condolences, please visit www.siskbutler.com.