Donna Esta Upchurch

"The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door"


Life is full of stories. We all have them, but once in a blue moon you meet one of those people who everything they touch is made beautiful. That was beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Donna Upchurch. Like The Beatles' tune, her road and journey led us all, family and friends, to her door.

Donna Esta Upchurch, age 82, passed away on May 15, 2021, at her home in Xenia, Ohio. She was born on April 17, 1939, in New Lebanon, Ohio, to the late Barbara Winnifred Clem and Dorsey Clay Clem of Odessa, Texas. Donna graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in 1957, and married her high school sweetheart, Andy Upchurch, on August 18, 1956. Donna was seventeen and Andy was eighteen.

Donna and Andy bought eight acres of property south of Xenia in 1958. Their slice of heaven is located on Old Winchester Trail, which used to be a one-lane gravel road back when the mailing address was New Burlington. This is where family gathered for picnics, ice skated on the pond every winter, fished in the pond every summer, and where Donna planted anything and everything she could get her hands on. One year she planted a thousand yellow and red tulips on the hillside of the pond.

Donna took great pleasure in art, creating and selling oil paintings and crafts. She had an uncanny knack for taking something plain and adding her flourishing touch to dress it up. She loved to bake and cook, which she shared with countless guests. Everyone in the family is waiting for her potato salad recipe. Donna played tennis, swam in her pool, and treasured a good find at a garage sale. She played piano and enjoyed singing, often entertaining family and friends. She loved her cats, and she will be greatly missed by their collie, Winston.

Over the years, she created and developed her own business, Love N Bloom Gardens, where she sold a variety of coxcomb and flowers she would dry. Eventually, she turned it into a bed and breakfast and tearoom. Donna lovingly served British-style tea to over 300 customers.

Donna was best known for the many years of service she gave her church, decorating for weddings, singing, attending Bible studies and more. She faithfully followed the Lord all the days of her life. She had developed a card ministry in which she never missed an opportunity to send someone an encouraging word. There are several cards stacked up on her desk still, waiting to be sent. She always liked to dress up for church and gatherings. Donna could pull off looking posh with ease. No one who knew her could forget all those hats-one in every color and style.

Donna had a natural green thumb and could grow anything. She was one of the founding members of the Caesar Creek Township Butterfly Garden. She loved to share her flowers with family and friends. Donna faithfully kept a weather almanac in which she recorded the changes in seasons, plants, and animal life on her property. She always gave family and friends predictions of what each winter was going to be like. An avid gardener and naturalist, Donna loved to watch and study the behavior of birds-like how a Pileated Woodpecker would cling to a tree to keep away from a swooping hawk, or the aspects on how to create a wildlife habitat. She and Andy raised mallard ducks and swans that graced the pond.

Donna will be sorely missed by her husband, Robert Andrew Upchurch, her two children, Rebecca Ann (Daniel) Holihan, and Robert Andrew (Haydee) Upchurch Jr.; her grandchildren Michael (Amy) Smith, Logan (Sarah) Smith, Emily Conley, Olivia Smith, Taylor Smith, Charity Upchurch, Chastity Bravo, Ryan Upchurch, and Haylie Upchurch.

Donna also had the joy of having many great grandchildren: Mackenzie, Raphael, Olivia Rose, Rachel, Judah, Jonathan, and Jenna Rose.

…And then there are all her beloved nieces, nephews, their spouses, her step-grandchildren, and her lifelong friend, Carol.

Donna lived her entire married life with Andy on their land in the country. On their 50th wedding anniversary, the family got them a bench that reads, "To Donna who loves this garden, and to Andy who sits beside her." In August, they would have been married 65 years. Faithful, loyal, funny, and generous beyond measure, Donna lived a full life on a long and winding road-heaven bound.
The imagery and memories of her surround and comfort all her family and friends, even in song:
"It's written in the Good Book the narrow road leads to life. Well, I've only known one road, and man the stories I could tell, back on Old Winchester Trail."

The family would love you to join us and share a few stories of your own. We welcome friends and family to Newcomers Funeral Home in Beavercreek, Ohio, on Sunday, May 23rd from 1-3 p.m. The family plans to continue her legacy of planting in her garden…you are welcome to join us.