Donna Marie Viles

Donna Marie (Hutchens) Viles, 77, of Lohman, Missouri completed her journey on this earth and began her eternal life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on September 1, 2024.

She was born in San Francisco on October 8, 1946. Donna was the daughter of Ralph E. Hutchens and Joyce Marie (Standard) Hutchens who preceded her in death.

Donna is survived by her husband, Rev. David Viles of the home; a daughter, Alisha (Viles) Pledger; a son, Ernest B. Hancock; a sister, Cheryl Perry; and a brother, Ralph Hutchens. As well as two granddaughters, Berkley Stout (John); Chera Pledger; three grandsons, Rees Pledger (Emily Coder); Ian Pledger; and Joshua Hancock. A great-grandson, Remi Pledger; and many nephews, nieces, and their children.

She married David Viles on February 14, 1981. They met at a Halloween party that neither one wanted to attend but went at the urging of friends. It must have been predestined, as they fell in love at first sight and were married three and a half months later.

Donna attended Westark Community College in Fort Smith, Arkansas and obtained a Bachelor’s Registered Nursing Degree. She began her career at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, AR in the Neonatal normal care and intensive care nursery working as charge nurse in rotation. 

She then became an Area Nursing Supervisor at the Agency on Aging of Western Arkansas, supervising three Home Health offices in Van Buren, Alma, and Springdale. She supervised all personnel to promote increased productivity and efficiency. She was responsible for Quality Assurance of patient care, charts, and billing. She promoted the Agency in the Community through public speaking, and community services.

Donna’s next career move was in education where she became an L.P.N. Instructor at Westark Community College. She loved teaching the students and the students all loved her.

She retired from the medical community after a few years working as a supervisor at a Nursing Home in Fort Smith, AR.

Donna was active as a committee member of the Arkansas Council on Home Health and Hospice. She volunteered time at the local college with Start Trek activities. Worked on group goals committee for Health Careers and volunteered time to Girl Scouts to do summer health physicals.

Her hobbies included drawing and reading, but she was best known for her quilting. She made most of her quilts to give away to cancer survivors. Donna had survived four primary cancers and brain surgery, and this was a way to help others through their similar ordeals. She also made quilts for her husband David’s Clergy ordination as well as his stoles and made quilts for two of his seminary classmates for their ordinations.

Donna’s faith in God was strong and she saw his hand at work throughout her life. In response to his grace, Donna devoted much of her life in caring for others. She will be missed, but never forgotten.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, October 12, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lohman with her husband, Rev. David Viles officiating. The service will be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page.

Burial will follow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. A reception will be held in the church hall following the graveside service.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Russellville. trimblefunerals.com