(1929-1934) 

2nd marriage – 14 Mar 1941 in Stevenson, WA. 

Ercel George Donaldson was the first born of Oscar and Ella Marya Comstock Donaldson.  He was born in Salem on 22 Feb 1909.  Ercel’s father and two of his uncles had already worked for TKWM.  However, Oscar left in 1910 to try his hand at construction.  He was still in construction in 1913 and the family had lived at several different addresses in downtown South Salem. 

With the start of WW1, Ercel’s father was back at TKWM as a spinner.  By 1920, the family lived at 1416 S Cottage St. while Ercel attended school.  By 1924, Ercel had three siblings:  Maxine M, Oscar L Jr (Luke) and Joan C. Part of a much larger family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

By 1928, Ercel started work at TKWM but he apparently took a break around 1930. He returned to the Mill in 1932 for a couple of years. He married Marcella Doris Whiteside on 11 Nov 1932 in Benton County, OR and continued to work at TKWM for two more years.  

Ercel had major surgery in Salem around 1935, lived with his parents for some time, and then he and Marcella moved to live with her parents in Corvallis during a lengthy recuperation.  The couple divorced in 1937. 

A 27 Jun 1938 Capital Journal article about the Donaldson Family Reunion in Dallas shows G. Ercel Donaldson living in Los Angeles.  However, by 1940, Ercel was back in Salem working as a salesman at Block’s Shoe Store. This was the time that Ercel began using his middle name George and from then on, he was known as George E. Donaldson.   

George’s second marriage was to Frances Welton, a trained nurse.  They married on 14 Mar 1941 in Stevenson, WA.  In 1942, Ercel was back at TKWM but soon after returning he was drafted for WW2.  He remained in the Army through 1945 while Frances continued to progress in her career. 

George returned from WW2 to work as a clerk but soon found himself back in the Army for the Korean war.  He never returned to woolen mill work and passed away on 4 Oct 1961.  Frances went on to be Chief of Surgery Nursing at Deaconess Hospital.  She passed away in 1990.  She and George are buried at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.   

1930 Ercel G.  No employment shown. 1590 S Cottage 

1932 Ercel G.  spinner TKWM 1590 S Cottage 

1934 Ercel G (Marie) Spinner TKWM 536 S 14th 

1940 George Slsmn Block’s Shoe Store 305 S 14th 

1942 George E Spinner TKWM 595 Mill 

George E (Frances P) USA 1430 Belview 

1945 George E (Frances P) USA 1950 Cottage 

no Ercel 

1947 George E (Frances) Clrk MW&Co RD8 Bx 20 

no Ercel 

1951 George E (Frances) USA 263 Forest Hills Wy 

Frances W nurse SMH RD8 Box 20 

1954 No George E.  

Frances W nurse SMH 263 Forest Hills Wy 

1920 Ercel Donaldson (10).  Born about 1910.  Son of HOH living at 1416 S Cottage St.  Oscar Donaldson (33) born in Sweden (spinner woolen mill), Ella 32, Ercel 10, Maxine 8, Leonard 3. 

1930 Ercel Donaldson (21).  Son of HOH.  Living at 1590 S Cottage.  Oscar L Donaldson 43 (Frmn Wool Mill), Ella M 41, Ercel G 21 (no employment), Maxine M 19, Oscar L Jr 13, Joan C 7 

Marcella D Whiteside.  Born about 1915 in Oregon.  Single daughter of HOH.  Home at 708 S 16th St, Corvallis, OR.   Attending school.  Father born in Iowa.  Mother born in Kansas.  William D Whiteside 53, Stella H 43, Alyce J 20, Marcella D 15, Winston H 10. 

1940 George E Donaldson (31).  Divorced son of HOH.  Res 1579 S Cottage.  Salesman, Shoe Store.  Completed HS.  Oscar L Donaldson 53, Ella M 51, George E 31, Leonard O 23, Jo Ann 17.   

Frances Donaldson.  Birth: 13 Oct 1915.  Death: 11 May 1990 in Marion County, OR.  Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion, OR. Memorial ID: 170762084 

Statesman Journal 14 May 1990 p 10  Obituary – Frances Welton Donaldson 

Capital Journal 9 Nov 1932 p 7  Marriage license issued to George Ercel Donaldson 23, machine operator, 1590 S Cottage, Salem and Doris Whiteside 18, student. 

Corvallis Gazette 23 Mar 1935 p 3  Has Second Operation, Ercel Donaldson 

Albany Democrat 22 Jul 1937 p 1  Ercel Donaldson and Marcella Whiteside divorce. 

Capital Journal 27 Jun 1938 p 10  Donaldson Reunion in Dallas shows G. Ercel Donaldson living in Los Angeles 

0079.001.0002           Photo 

M3 1994-016-0001     Oral History (Hilge “Luke” Donaldson)