Doug Donalson
Douglas “Doug” Donalson, a longtime pioneer in limousine manufacturing, passed away on Sunday July 28, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 76.
Doug is best known from his time at Executive Coach Builders, where he led the company’s production team during the heyday of limousine manufacturing. He joined Executive when it was first launched in 1977, an event that is credited with making Springfield, Missouri, a hub of limousine manufacturing. After working for some other coachbuilders over the years, he returned to Executive in the 1990s when the company was purchased by current owner David Bakare, ultimately spending more than 40 years in the limousine manufacturing sector. He was well known and respected in the industry and received several awards and recognition for his contributions.
Born in Texas in 1947, Doug was a military brat who moved several times during his childhood due to his father’s career as an Air Force pilot. He later enlisted in the Air Force himself, serving one year in Vietnam during his 6-year career.
The self-professed tinkerer didn’t limit his talents to limousines—although his accomplishments were many, including his groundbreaking “wide body” limousine design that helped to put Executive on the map. His family says besides being a longtime motorcycle enthusiast, his real passion was cars. His life’s work and hobbies evolved around building, customizing, designing, and owning countless vehicles that ranged from dune buggies to limousines.
According to his family, Doug also liked doing home improvements for his own home as well as those of his loved ones, and he was also a talented woodworker.
Doug is survived by his wife, Lynn; his son Ryan, wife Beth, and grandsons Brody and Jude; his daughter Becky Worthy, husband Nathan, and granddaughter Sydney and her husband Ian, and grandson Riley; his brother Sterling and his wife Marsha, nephew Drew and niece Jocelyn and their families.
He was laid to rest on August 5 in Springfield.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to South Gate Baptist Church, of which he was a charter member.
Chauffeur Driven extends our heartfelt condolences to the Donalson family as well as his loved ones, friends, and colleagues.
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