Linda Lee Donnelly

On August 16, 2019, Linda Lee (Postlethwait) Donnelly, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at the age of 73.

Linda was born on May 3, 1946 to COL Edward Marion Postlethwait USA and Merece (Taralseth) Postlethwait in Washington DC. Linda started her secondary education at Sullins College in Bristol VA and completed it at George Washington University, earning both an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Masters of Business Administration. She began her career as one of the first female computer systems analysts in the US working for the Navy at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, MD. She retired as COO/CFO of a Virginia rehabilitation services firm. Along the way, she gave back to her community as a dedicated Red Cross volunteer, President of the Navy Wives’ Club at Pearl Harbor, and as a buyer for non-profit Boutiki Gift Shop.

While working in Indian Head in April of 1969, Linda was introduced to young Naval officer Robert (Bob) Jennings Donnelly in a meeting orchestrated by Bob’s sister Susan Donnelly Strack and brother-in-law Harry Strack. Bob proposed just two weeks after their first date (Linda requested he ask her again later) and they were married on November 8, 1969.

Linda and Bob moved frequently due to Bob’s Navy career, which suited Army brat Linda just fine. They made many friends stationed in Virginia Beach VA, Newport RI, Charleston SC, Little Creek VA, and Pearl Harbor HI. In Hawaii, Linda and Bob welcomed daughter, Ashley. Hawaii was a wonderful place to raise a young family. Sadly, in 1979, Linda and Bob experienced the tragedy of a stillborn son, Matthew Michael Donnelly.

Bob’s last Navy orders brought him to the Pentagon and the Washington DC area, where they settled down. Linda launched her career in rehabilitation services with Rehab Inc., and Bob began a second career with defense contractors. Daughter Ashley attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and went on to the University of Virginia for undergraduate studies and a Masters of Business Administration.

Family and friends were everything to Linda and she always made special time for her loved ones. Ashley and her husband Matt have lived in Arlington VA since 2007. Linda delighted in being close to her grandchildren for holidays and special events. She even moved in for several months to help when Ashley and Matt welcomed boy/girl twins, Quinn and Maren, in 2008 and again in 2010 for granddaughter Delen.

Linda inherited a love of travel from her parents. She lived in Germany for four years during her father’s Army career. During that time, her family used weekends and school holidays to explore every corner of Western Europe as well as North Africa by boat, plane, train, and 1956 Ford station wagon. Linda spent much of the early years of her marriage traveling the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South America, meeting Bob whenever his ship came in to port. She continued to travel whenever the opportunity presented itself (especially when she could avoid a plane) and experienced almost all of Europe, most of South America, and several places in Asia and Africa during her lifetime, collecting countless treasures along the way.

Linda moved to Woodbridge VA in 1983, but spent her summers at her beloved 121 year old Maple Lake cottage (Lettuce Loaf) in Northwestern Minnesota. Linda and her brother Ed make up the fourth of six generations that have cherished and lovingly cared for the cottage. Linda treasured her time there in early years with her brother and parents. In her middle years with Bob and Ashley and Ed’s family, she enjoyed teaching Ashley to waterski, playing Mah Jong, and hosting Ashley’s friends from Virginia. In her later years, she introduced the cottage and its traditions to her grandkids and spent time connecting with life long, dear friends.

Linda had a deep interest in government and politics, read the Washington Post cover to cover almost daily, and appreciated any political debate or discussion. She was an excellent Bridge player and expert Sudoku solver. She found joy in light-hearted murder mystery novels (no gore!), romantic comedies (no unhappy endings!), and collecting anything blue and white. Linda was above all a first-class entertainer and loved to bring people together – whether it was a large charity ball, a wedding, a family holiday, a celebration of long family friendships and 100 year old lake cottages, or an intimate gathering friends – you could be sure Linda thought of every detail.

Linda is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, CDR Robert J. (Bob) Donnelly USN Ret., her daughter Ashley Donnelly Leonard, her son-in-law Dr. Matthew M. Leonard, her grandchildren Maren, Quinn and Delen, her brother Dr. Edward Marion Postlethwait Jr. and sister-in-law Betsy Postlethwait, her brother-in-law CAPT William (Pat) Donnelly USN Ret. and sister-in-law Missy Donnelly, her sister-in-law Susan Strack and brother-in-law CAPT Harry Strack USNR Ret., nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and many close friends that she loved as family.

Linda was a proud Army daughter and Navy wife. A funeral service will be held at the Old Post Chapel on Fort Myer followed by burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on October 22, 2019 at 3:00pm.