Share
Let the family know you care by sharing this tribute.
Dona Elizabeth (Hobbs) Wallen, age 61, of Newnan, GA passes away peacefully into the arm of Our Lord, just before dawn at the her home on February 24, 2018 – surrounded by family and friends – after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Dona’s sense of curiosity, intelligence, warmth, style, enthusiasim, humor and incredibly gentle and caring nature inspired hundreds through her work as a nurse and as an avid animal lover.
Born in Lutherville, Maryland on October 5, 1956, Dona was the daughter of the late Donald Hobbs and Deborah Delores Homes Hobbs. She is survived by her beloved husband, Malcolm Wallen of 14 years. They were married on July 25, 2004 in the Great Smokey Mountains. Dona is also lovingly remembered by her sister, Mary (& brother-in-law, Jim) Hanson and brother, Donald (and sister-in-law, Ellen) Hobbs; step-children, Jessica Paglia and Erica Abell; niece, Lauren Williams and nephew, Matthew Hanson; as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins; five dogs, including her precious Molly, four cats, and countless deer, chipmunks, birds and other wildlife that flocked to her daily.
Dona spent her early years in Beltimore, Maryland. She graduated from Towson High School and then went on the receive her degree in Nursing from USC Aiken in South Carolina.
She settled in Newnan after her marriage to Malcolm. Together they raised sheep, goats, donkeys and chickens on their farm. She gave much of her life to animal welfare and rescued scores of them – either by taking them in or by finding them caring homes. She did not come back from anyplace without a doggie bag full of food and scraps for her dear animals. Dona marveled at nature and spent hours zipping around on her golf cart through the woods on her farm, sometimes stopping to take a break and watch the sunlight stream through the trees. Now she is part of them, forever.
A woman of many gifts, Dona touched the lives of many through her 40 years of caring for patients in hospitals throughout Georgia. She spoke often and fondly of her work, patients and colleagues at the burn unit at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.
Donations in her memory can be made to Newnan-Coweta Humane Society (www.nchsrescue.org) or to Affinis Hospice (affinishospice.org).
Friends, family, and pets will gather for a bonfire celebration of Dona’s life on April 7th at 6 PM at her farm in Newnan. Her body was cremated, and she will be laid to eternal rest at Ocean City, Maryland – one of her favorite places on earth.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to all those involved in her care over the past years, including the medical staff at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Newnan and Affinis Hospice of Newnan, as well as countless family, friends and neighbors for all their love, support and prayers.
Life doesn’t end in a slow riding hearse… Elizabeth BELIEVED!
carol singleton says
what a sweet tribute to a lovely lady! all of your friends here in Corinth will be thinking of you, Malcolm, sending you prayers that God will give you comfort in the coming days. You both fought hard but she has no pain now and that is truly a blessing….thanks for calling and hope to see you soon