Dona Mae Ison

Dona Mae Ison passed away peacefully on 11/25/2022 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center at the age of 91. She was born in August, on the 31st day of 1931 to Alice and Edward Enouf in Concord, WA.  She and her brother, Edward Jr (called Skip), were children in the depression era foster system, eventually being raised by the Carmelite Nuns of Duluth, Minnesota.  She had 2 children, a daughter Deborah Rae and a son, Michael Edward.  In the early 1960s she met a handsome sailor, Leo Ison, in San Diego and they were soon married.  Anne-Margaret was born to them just after Christmas; December 29th, in the year 1964.

Dona, fondly called “Dona Mae” by family members, was a beloved school bus driver for Nottoway County for a little over a decade. She loved the children who rode her bus and would hand out bubblegum. She would often stop at a local country store on her country route so the kids could go in and get drinks and snacks on Fridays- she was always ready to buy a few soft drinks for any kids who did not have “drink money.”

She brought a bounty of love to everyone, and had a remarkable ability to connect with people, share herself and evoke that same spirit of love and caring in any person she met.

She studied hard, received her GED at the age of 44 and went to work for the Virginia Department of Corrections. She was an honor graduate of Waynesboro Police Academy and was famous for her rookie record from qualifications in shooting- two perfect Range scores from the lady everyone called “Mom.”   She went on enjoying a long, colorful career for decades in Virginia corrections. She was one of the very first ranked female officers- walking around in max security spaces women had never set foot before; serving as Watch Commander and sitting on adjustment hearings. She was loved and respected and known to be “by the book,” dependable, fierce, and fearless. She treated everyone she encountered with respect, care, and empathy.

Sergeant Ison retired and got a new job as “Gaga.”  This is the name her two grandsons -Jared Cole and Joseph Michael called her with love. (Note that this eventually turned into just “Gog” because they were cool guys.)

Dona’s love transformed the lives of many people she met.  While living in Farmville, Dona met a neighbor Joan Jones while living in the Crestview Subdivision.  Dona and Joan came to be good friends, and when Joan fell on hard times and lost her house, Dona took her in. They became roommates, and babysitting partners for Jared Cole and Joseph Michael while Dona’s daughter Anne Margaret worked long hours at the Farmville Post office.

Dona followed her family when they moved from Farmville, to Midlothian, and finally to Maryland and Pennsylvania. She and Anne Margaret saw each other almost daily.  She loved to shop and go out to eat. She loved to go to the movie theatre, watch movies and eat popcorn. Her grandchildren grew up and moved away; one joining the Marines and one joining the Navy. Dona eventually moved into Bonnie Blink, a Maryland Masonic Retirement home, where she very happily lived out the rest of her life.

Dona was predeceased by Leo, her ex-husband and lifelong friend, and by her oldest child Michael Edward Ison and her older brother, Skip.

In life, Dona was very specific about her wishes; she didn’t want a memorial or a funeral service; she said they were sad and depressing.   She asked for her ashes to be scattered at Buggs Island Lake in Virginia, at Michael and Sue’s cabin at Lake Shamana in Minnesota, and off the Oceanside pier in San Diego where Leo and she had so many happy days. These are the places marked the happiest moments in her life.

Dona has left a legacy of love, family and happiness; many people were touched by her love during her lifetime. She’s going to make a fantastic angel having tons of earthly experience.  In lieu of flowers, and in her memory, please donate to your local SPCA, or to the Wounded Warriors Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/, two organizations she felt strongly about.  Hartenstein Funeral & Cremation Care, Inc. of Stewartstown, PA, is assisting the family with the arrangements. HartensteinCares.com