Donna Hendrickson: Oct. 4, 1941-Oct. 11, 2026

Donna Lynn Hendrickson was born on October 4, 1941, in Lima, OH to Don Hemley Yant and Ruby Olive Guenther. When she was 8 years old, the family moved to Beaumont, TX, where she graduated from high school. She was an accomplished musician, excelling on multiple instruments including violin, viola, piano, organ, alto saxophone, and drums. As a young teenager she was a substitute pianist and organist for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and performed in the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra. She was awarded a viola scholarship at Baylor University and majored in Church Music. During those years, she was active in the First Baptist Church Orchestra and Baylor Symphony Orchestra. A memorable college highlight was when the Baylor Symphony Orchestra accompanied one of Van Cliburn’s piano concerts on campus. She married fellow Baylor student, Sam H. Tubb, Jr, and in 1964, they were sent to Bitburg Air Force Base in Germany, where Donna served as organist for military chapel services and taught piano lessons. They were blessed with two daughters, Cheryl and Holli, during their brief marriage.

Donna and the girls moved back to Beaumont, and upon her father’s retirement from the postal service in 1967, they moved together to Kerrville, TX. She worked for the Dean at Schreiner University and assisted in opening Kerrville’s Social Security Office. Subsequently she worked at the Office of Hearings and Appeals in TX and NJ until her retirement. During her career, she continued her love of music. Donna accompanied numerous musical theater productions at The Point Theater in Ingram and served as church organist at First Presbyterian and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed ringing handbells and chimes, and singing in church choirs and with the Hill Country Chorale. Her family will always treasure the professional recording of music selections featuring Donna’s beautiful alto voice and her sister, Carole on piano.

Donna had a sense of humor and friendly personality. She always took time to visit with people and pay a compliment. She was an avid reader and volunteered and served on staff at numerous libraries. She also held various leadership positions in the Major James Kerr NSDAR Chapter. Over the years, she enjoyed celebrating many special family events, traveling and spending time with her friends and pet dogs. She passed away on October 11, 2026. Preceding her is husband, David Hendrickson; sister, Carole Tanner; brother-in-law, Dr. J.E. Tanner; and son-in-law, Dr. Peter Nielsen. She is survived by daughters, Cheryl Nielsen and Holli (Greg) Brunsman; grandchildren, Kristin (Dr. McKinley) Soult, Karl (Evan) Nielsen, Erik (Carol) Nielsen, Dr. Rachel (William) Bowen and Ryan (Taylor) Ticknor; five great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joan (Jim) Froemke, and loving extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 22 at 11 am at Kerrville Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following: The Baylor Music Dept. at Vanity link: https://www.baylor.edu/inmemory/Hendrickson; or Digital link: https://bbis.baylor.edu/give?id=49837&f=0404318&scode=27_MT_DHENDRICKSON; or Hill Country Arts Foundation at hcaf.com: click Support tab, then Support HCAF & Donate, click white Donate tab, scroll down to “In Memory of Donna Hendrickson”; or The Hill Country Chorale at https://hillcountrychorale.org/donate/.

Services with dignity, pride, and honor are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home.