Robert B. “Rob” MacDonald, Jr., 73, long-time esteemed Logan County Attorney, passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Riverview Care Center, Columbus, Ohio, after a brief courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, on February 3, 1950, the son of the late Robert B. and Una Claire (Bennington) MacDonald.
On October 30, 1988, he married Diana MacDonald, and she survives along with a daughter, Jennifer A. (Brent) Ogle of Mount Vernon, OH, a son, Jacob M. (Joanna) Failor of Dublin, OH, seven grandchildren: Will Wells-Ogle, Harry, Claire, and Lucy Ogle, Claudia, George, and Lola Failor, and a sister, Christina MacDonald of Upper Arlington.
Rob was a 1968 graduate of Indian Lake High School and received his B.A. in 1972 from The Ohio State University. He then went on to receive his Juris doctor with distinction (1st in his class) from Ohio Northern University Petit College of Law, where his classmates affectionately referred to him as “The Answer Man.” He worked as an attorney and was a partner at Thompson Dunlap & Heydinger Law Firm in Bellefontaine and Lakeview. He was a member of the Logan County Bar Association (President, 1983), Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio Society of Healthcare Attorneys, United Way of Logan County Admissions Committee (Past Member), Symposiarchs, Logan County Board of Health (Past Member), Logan County Community Improvement Corporation (Past Member), Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club, and had been the long-time former Small Claims Court Referee
Rob was very proud of growing up at Indian Lake and being a die-hard “Lake Rat” always supporting the “Mighty Lakers” and of his Scottish family heritage, being only a second generation American as his grandfather immigrated from Scotland. Rob visited Scotland several times to meet his Scottish cousins. Rob was also a very proud Ohio State graduate and had been a long-time OSU football season ticket holder and OSU basketball fan, having been a freshman walk-on player for the OSU freshman basketball team in the Fall of 1968.
Rob enjoyed skiing with his ski buddies, golfing with his Amigo league friends, fly fishing and visiting and hiking with his grandchildren through the many national parks he visited.
Rob always loved the experience of hanging out with his grandchildren and made it a point to try to keep up on pop culture and the newest technology so he could be the “hip and cool grandfather” when visiting with his grandchildren.
Rob was a keen and amused observer of life and the human condition with a somewhat dry and sarcastic sense of humor, and it was always a pleasure to be in his company. He was a gentle, authentic, amiable soul who will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues at the Bar.
Pastor Jim Ellington will officiate a memorial service on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. in the Indian Lake Community Church, 121 N. Orchard Rd., Russells Point. Visitation will be Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 and again one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will follow in Huntsville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Indian Lake Community Church, 121 N Orchard Island Rd, Russells Point, OH 43348; or to Indian Lake Athletic Boosters, PO Box 73, Russells Point, OH 43348 or to
Mary Rutan Hospital Foundation, 205 Palmer Avenue, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311.
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, is honored to serve the MacDonald family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.
