Covington Citizen of the Year dies at the age of 89 in Auburn
Published 3:30 pm Tuesday, March 6, 2012
In Covington he was known as the “Rose Fellow” and the “Candyman.”
Robert D. MacDonald, the 2005 Covington Citizen of the Year, passed away on Feb. 26 at the age of 89 in Auburn.
Born in November 1922 in San Francisco, he joined the United States Navy in 1942, attending a navy machinist school in Oklahoma. He later served as a telephone man on an aircraft carrier. MacDonald was involved in both World War II and the Korean War. In 1947, he was attached to a naval master jet station in Virginia. It was there he met his future wife, Blanche, on Chincoteague Island. They married in 1948.
He attended Pasadena Community College and the University of Southern California, where he studied architectural design. According to his wife, he was very active in the Construction Specification Institute in Seattle, where he eventually became an emeritus member.
According to his wife, he was also actively involved in local politics, which included the incorporation of the city of Duarte, Calif. in their living room in 1957. He also served as the vice chairman on the city’s planning commission for 10 years.
MacDonald’s interest in roses began in 1978, when he and his wife moved to Covington, bringing with them a single rose to plant in their yard. By 1999, there were more than 272 roses in their garden. He also helped found the Rainy Rose Society based in Kent and served as the editor of the newsletter for 22 years.
MacDonald got his nickname from taking his roses, as well as candy, and passing them out to people along the street and in coffee shops in Covington.
These small acts of kindness led him to be selected as the Covington Citizen of the Year in 2005.
“Rob MacDonald is deserving of recognition for his contributions as a citizen and especially for spreading his good cheer with a small town attitude,” the proclamation stated.
MacDonald is survived by his wife, three children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grand children.
There will be a military service at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 16 at the Tahoma National Cemetery.
A church service is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, at St. James Episcopal Church in Kent.
