Carl “Herman” McDonald, 78, of Benton, Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, Kentucky.
Herman was born on December 7, 1947, in Marshall County, Kentucky, to the late Claude McDonald and Rose Darnall Peck. Herman was a pipefitter and worked for Arkema, formerly the General Aniline and Film Plant in Calvert City, Kentucky, until retirement. He had a great personality and would do anything for anyone at a moment's notice. He was a man of determination and stubbornness, and once he had his mind set on something, there was no changing the direction. He was also a man of spontaneity. He would get the idea that the family needed a vacation, load everyone up on a whim, and head to whatever location suited his fancy.
Herman always kept himself busy. He constructed handmade knives and collected a lot of different things, most notably clocks that looked like old cars. He loved working on lawn mowers, and he was always ready to go fishing. His greatest loves in life, though, were his family.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Paula Faye Smith McDonald of Benton; one son, Mitchell McDonald, also of Benton; five grandchildren, Jordan Robertson (Jaron), Steven Curtiss (Mikaela), Anna Marie Curtiss (Abbi), Ty Curtiss (Olivia), and Tristan McDonald; and four great-grandchildren, Sadie Curtiss, Corbin Brust, Connor Brust and great-granddaughter McDonald.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Stacy Curtiss; one sister, Kathlene Cain; four brothers, John Ed Barnes, Charlie Ray “Buddy” Barnes, Paul Barnes, and Joe Pete Barnes.
Expressions of sympathy can be made in the form of donation to the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center, 1530 Lone Oak Rd., Paducah, KY 42003, in Herman’s honor.
Herman’s family would like to give a special thanks to all of the staff at Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center for their care and kindness shown to Herman and his family during his time with them. All of your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Life Celebration Center of Filbeck-Cann, 1003 Poplar Street, Benton, KY 42025
A memorial service will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Life Celebration Center of Filbeck-Cann.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit Carl’s Tribute Wall at www.filbeckandcann.com
