A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 1 at 11 a.m. at Northside Baptist Church. Friends may call on Wednesday, September 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. She will be laid to rest at Washington Park North Cemetery.

Donna Beth Cox Woessner, was born February 16, 1943 in Houston, Texas, to Van Zannie Cox and Rotha Cox. She is survived by her husband, William T. Woessner, her sister, Janell Cox Atkinson married to Hollie Atkinson , a brother Van Ray Cox, married to Glenda Cox, , daughters Lynn Ann Morris, married to Michael Morris, Kristina Kay Ector, married to Jeffery Ector, and Robin Lynn Tubbs, married to Jimmy Tubbs,. and a son, James Garrett. There are nine grandchildren, Whitney Nicole Morris Lange, married to Simon Lange, , Mackenzie Morris, , Samantha and Madison Ector, Brandon Tubbs, Seth Tubbs and Jaden Tubbs, Ashley Woessner, and Tristan Garrett..
Donna grew up in Livingston, Texas. Her dad worked in the oil fields as a Gauger for Esso. They attended a Southern Baptist church in Livingston, and Donna attended school there playing clarinet in the high school band. Although she was the youngest, with her brother they rode motorcycles, drove stock cars, and did water skiing on Lake Livingston where at age 28 she had a very serious accident going off a ramp in a jump. She later attended Texas A & M University in College Station, Texas. Together we watched a lot of Aggie games on TV, and I may have become more of a fan than she was.

One of Donna’s uncles was instrumental in encouraging her to go into the insurance business. She did and worked in several agencies, the last in Houston, who sent her to London, England, were we met. She moved to New Jersey and went to work in an insurance agency. We later formed our own company. We traveled all over the world putting together incentive programs for major corporations. Of course Donna’s favorite place was London, but she also loved Monte Carlo, and the entire Rivera coastal area.

In 1990 she encouraged me to leave Travelco, so we formed our own company, Merit Motivations Inc. . Whether it was working together in business, or at home, she was my support. Many thought it was unusual that two people could work and live together. It was never a problem since I relied on Donna for her organizational skills, and abundant resource of energy. I recall returning home after two days, and by herself she had completely wallpapered the bedroom. This also involved moving heavy furniture.

When we moved from South Jersey in 1994 to Indianapolis, it was to watch grandchildren grow. Donna did go back to work in insurance until 2007. It was during the summer she had a very large tumor removed from her stomach. We were afraid it would be cancer, but God saved us from that situation.
We did take up camping for a few years, even bought a trailer, but the last three years have been tough on Donna with a variety of illnesses. The most recent, Chargot forced her into a wheelchair from May until October last year. So many of her problems have been diabetes related.

On April 29th we went for a routine annual check of her Pacemaker. The doctor was extremely concerned about her readings and suggested she enter the hospital where they could put her on a medication that would stabilize her heart rhythms. When we asked when, he said, ”right now, my nurse will take you over”. That was April 29th. She never returned home again. Donna is a fighter. She has fought for five months, but she was never going to recover or enjoy any quality of life. She has been kept alive by dialysis, three times a week, a feeding tube, and oxygen..
Several weeks ago we meet with the hospital staff concerning her future. We were advised the trach will never be removed, she will never talk, write, or walk, and be on dialysis forever while her kidneys become weaker. An infection in her body would be a possibly since her immune system is so fragile.

I will miss her so much. So many little things I relied on her for. If she didn’t have an answer she could figure it out, whether it was a minor repair to the car, something in the house, or taking apart a computer, she was capable of doing things which I could only stand by and watch. How often I would be fumbling with something, and she would say, “give it to me”’.

There were many great times we shared together in a rather short time, only 35 years together, but what is most important is she helped to introduce me to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Together we enjoyed choir and other church activities, especially our Sunday School Class.. I know she is now enjoying a well desired rest, seeing her Mom and Dad, but most of all walking and talking with Jesus. I’m happy for her, and take comfort knowing we will meet again someday in another distant place as we did over 35 years ago.