Larry McDonald: Oct. 2, 1935-Jan. 16, 2026

Larry William McDonald, 90, of Kerrville, Texas, passed from this earth on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Burr Oak, Indiana to Dewey Elmer McDonald and Mary Ransbottom McDonald on October 2, 1935. He married Peggy Lou Battle on November 21, 1958, in Big Spring, Texas.

Larry is a beloved Dad and Grandpa. His family and friends remember him as a kind, generous and gentle man. His life was one of service and devotion to his family, to others, and to God. When he was able to walk regularly in his neighborhood, his mission was to pick up the elderly neighbors’ and widows’ newspapers from their driveways and place them on their porches.

Larry enjoyed woodworking and general handyman work at home and for others. It was not unusual for friends, neighbors and friends of friends to call and ask him to come ”fix” or do something around their home. He would regularly tell people ”I don’t need to get paid. I’m happy to help”. People often comment on how happy Larry always was and had a smile on his face. He did not know a stranger and would leave people with one of his epic stories, which he had many of.

He proudly served his country in the Air Force. He worked as a Lab Technician at the Cosden/Petrofina Refinery in Big Spring, Texas for 35 years before retiring to Kerrville, Texas, with his wife to be near their grandchildren. He attended Hunt Baptist Church and spoke of the congregation as his ”church family”.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Peggy Battle McDonald, his mother and father and all his five siblings.

Survivors include Brenda Kay McDonald, daughter and Larry Guy McDonald, son, and his wife Debbie McDonald all of Kerrville, Texas, his grandchildren, Brittany Nicole McDonald, Corpus Christi, Texas, Stephanie Lynn McDonald, Corpus Christi, Texas and Brandon Guy McDonald, his fiancée, Madysen Nicole Kiley, Kerrville, Texas. Great-grandchildren include Bailey Marae Whitt, Corpus Christi, Texas, Cora Paige Callender, Corpus Christi, Texas and Barrett Hall of Kerrville, Texas.

Visitation will be 4 pm to 6 pm, Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.

Funeral service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, January 23, 2026, at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville with the Reverend John Collis officiating. Burial will be at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak, Indiana.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Brandon McDonald, Nick Lowe (Pallbearer in Memoriam), John DeLong, David Herring, Casey ”Rusty” Goodman and Barry Vanzant.

Memorials may be given to Hunt Baptist Church, Hunt, Texas, the Dietert Center of Kerrville, Texas or Hill Country Youth Ranch, Ingram, Texas.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all those who have provided loving and knowledgeable care to Larry for many years. His care consisted of many providers including the Marcie Sweat, NP, Gem Team and multiple departments at the Kerrville VA Medical Center; Rebecca Barrington, MD, Dena Soth, NP and the staff of Texas Oncology-Kerrville; Linette Melcher, MD and staff; Ralph Fritzsch, MD and staff of Peterson Medical Group; the Peterson Medical Center Emergency Room doctor and staff who cared for Larry the night of January 8, 2026; and the Brooke Army Medical Center trauma team, neurology team, chaplain service as well as the myriad number of nurses and staff who cared for Larry and his family in the ICU, 2W and 2E.