Joe McDonald Honored on 90th Birthday

Longtime Apalachicola resident Joseph McDonald celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends two weeks ago.
The celebration started on Friday night, April 18 when the entire family gathered at Papa Joe's for some local seafood. On Saturday night, a formal birthday dinner was held at Avenue Sea in the Gibson Hotel. The Knights of Columbus hosted a birthday celebration after Mass at St. Patrick's Church on Sunday.
McDonald first came to Franklin County during World War II, where he was stationed at Camp Gordon Johnston and assigned to oversee the infirmary. Later he would see action in Europe in a tank battalion, and following the war, returned to Apalachicola, where he became administrator of Weems Memorial Hospital.
Joe's children, Patricia and Bob Fritz, Joanne Fowler, Michael and Jan McDonald, and Victor and Leta McDonald joined in the birthday festivities, along with Joe's grandchildren, Stephen and Lisa Fritz, Kevin and Kristen Fritz, Julie and Tim Stickelmaier, Christopher Fowler, John McDonald, Keith and Courtney McDonald, Lara and Mike McCoy, Beth and Jamie Clifford, Chris and Zeke Hudson.
Joe's great-grandchildren, Riley, Jake, Luke and Keegan Fritz, Conner and Cody Stickelmaier, Katie and Jack McCoy and Alli, Bailey, Courtney and Cooper Hudson helped celebrate their great grandfather's birthday.
Having his family with him for his 90th birthday was a special time for Joe.