Edward Patrick “Eddie” MacDonald, Sr., 88, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at his residence. The family will receive friend Saturday, December 22, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Eddie will be laid to rest in a private service at Tift Memorial Gardens.
Born April 28, 1930 in Dayton, Maine, Eddie was the son of the late John A. MacDonald and Margaret Gates MacDonald. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Esther Pauline Day MacDonald; and one son, Eddie MacDonald, Jr. He was the youngest of 13 children and was employed as a mechanic.
Eddie was a lifetime member of The Living Legends of Auto Racing. He began his racing career at Beach Ridge Speedway in Maine at the age of 18. He raced at many tracks in the north and was told he would never walk right again after being badly injured on a small asphalt track in Sanford, Maine.
Eddie was a veteran of the United States Army and, in 1955, he came to Fort Benning in Columbus. While there, he began building and driving cars for Jimmy Thomas. He also built his own car to drive at Daytona in 1959, the first year they opened. He also raced at many other tracks throughout the south, such as Darlington, Atlanta and Nashville, Tennessee.
Eddie built and drove for other owners such as Laverne Kendrick, Speedy Spears, John Hipps, Bruce Brantley, Wally Masters and Milt Henery (midget champion). He also team raced for and with the late Tiny Lund.
Eddie was inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in May 2004; the Jacksonville Raceway Hall of Fame in 1993; and the ThunderBowl Speedway Hall of Fame in 1992. He also enjoyed woodworking.
Eddie is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Rhonda MacDonald and Jerry and Rhonda MacDonald; six grandchildren and their spouses, Kim and Andy Oliver, Eddie “Seven” III and Alexis MacDonald, Katie and Jayson Harrison, Jeremy and Leslie MacDonald, Justin MacDonald and Jason and Jennifer MacDonald; and several great-grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Tift Area, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793.