Donna Ruth Chesney Loggins packed a lot of living into the nearly 91 years she was allotted. The West Columbia icon who passed away on October 26, 2025, is a former valuable Columbia Historical Museum board member. She gave so much of herself to the museum and to the other organizations she was involved with in town. 2025 has been a very difficult year for West Columbia, as this grand town has lost four of its most knowledgeable historians over the past nine or ten months.

Dorothy “Babe” Fisher. Flem Rogers. Betty Blackmon. And now our beloved “Boardwalk Baby” herself, Donna Loggins. They all passed away in 2025, three of the four having lived longer than 90 years! Flem was only in his sixties. Donna Ruth survived the trials of advancing age long enough to witness her family’s store, Chesney’s Jewelry, celebrate 100 years of being in business in West Columbia’s downtown area.

She had been living at The Fountains in Sweeny in recent months. She and her late husband, Dr. Burch Loggins, were many things to many people in West Columbia. They were all that is good about West Columbia. The small town’s only veterinarian for many years, Dr. Loggins was a longtime school board member who served many years as president of Columbia-Brazoria ISD’s governing body. He and Donna Ruth Chesney graduated together from West Columbia High School in 1952. Betty Douthard Blackmon, treasurer of the museum board for many years and a longtime museum volunteer, was also a member of the 1952 graduating class. Donna helped her parents out with running Chesney’s Jewelry for an extended time, then took over the business when her Mom and Dad could no longer manage it.

She and Burch were valuable members of the West Columbia Rotary Club. Burch had perfect attendance for many years, and Donna was the first female member and the first woman president of the local Rotary Club. It was mentioned at a recent Rotary Club meeting that Donna Ruth may have been approaching 90 but she still had to say, “Yes sir” and “No sir,” to Sandy Weems at meetings because Sandy was one year older than her. He graduated in 1951 from West Columbia High School when Donna and Burch were juniors!

Sandy Weems is still going strong and attending West Columbia Rotary Club meetings regularly. Donna Loggins’ absence from future meetings will be a difficult speed bump in the road for Rotarians to maneuver. She meant so much to so many in West Columbia. But none more than her beautiful family! The Columbia Historical Museum’s board of directors would like to express our sincere condolences to Donna’s sister and fellow former museum board member Tissie Schwebel and her husband, Dr. Bob Schwebel, who like Burch Loggins is a retired veterinarian. And most of all to Burch and Donna’s children, Bubby Loggins and his wife Lynn and their children, and Jenny Beth Loggins Morrow and her husband Jeff and their children, as well as to the many grandchildren who will be missing their sweet grandmother!

Donna Ruth Chesney was born in Bay City, Texas, on November 25, 1934, to Ernest Holdon Chesney and Virginia Douglas Brunner.

Donna grew up on Main Street in West Columbia, where her parents owned Chesney’s Jewelry. She was one of the Boardwalk babies who spent childhood days between the family jewelry store and Bruno Drug Store. Donna attended West Columbia schools, where she played basketball, marched in the high school band as a twirler, and studied piano. When her father promised to buy her a grand piano if she learned “Saint Louis Blues,” she did, and he kept his promise. She continued her education at Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos.

On January 26, 1953, Donna married Reuben Burch Loggins Jr., and the couple moved to College Station, Texas. Donna worked for the College Station School System for five years, and when she left that position, the yearbook was dedicated in her honor. After Burch became a veterinarian, the family returned to West Columbia, and Donna again served in the school system. She later worked with her parents in the family jewelry store and purchased Chesney’s Jewelry in 1977. Under her stewardship, the family business upheld a proud legacy and remains a beloved West Columbia landmark with more than a century of continuous operation.

Donna devoted herself to family and community. She and Burch raised two children in West Columbia: son R. B. “Bubby” Loggins and daughter Virginia “Jenny” Beth Morrow. Donna’s life was defined by service and civic involvement. She helped organize and remained an active member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was a life member of Eastern Star Chapter #705, served two terms as Worthy Matron, and was the long-time musician for Eastern Star, sharing her musical gifts with chapters throughout District 4. She was also awarded the Golden Star by her chapter this year (2025).

Donna was an early and influential member of the West Columbia Rotary Club, the first woman invited to join and the first woman to serve as Rotary President. She served on the Columbia Historical Museum Association Board and the CEMS Board. Donna was a faithful, lifelong member of Columbia Methodist Church, having attended since the age of six.

A dedicated genealogist, Donna belonged to several county and state heritage societies, including Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of 1812, the Rev. Richard Buck Chapter of the 17th Century Colonial Dames, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Her family lineage includes a Texas ancestor who was among Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Holdon Chesney and Virginia Douglas Brunner; her husband, Reuben Burch Loggins Jr., and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Loggins. She is survived by her son, R. B. “Bubby” Loggins (Lynn), and her daughter, Virginia “Jenny” Beth Morrow (Jeff), her sister Patricia “Tissie” Schwebel (Bobby), her grandchildren, Erin Peterson (Matt), Ben Loggins (Jessica), Todd Loggins (Kayla), Chesney Sisson (Ray), Coy Sims (Lauren) and Cody Morrow (Alice), and her great-grandchildren, Kaegan Sims (Jayce), Haelie Ganze (Clayton), Anabelle Loggins, Elizabeth Loggins, Olivia Loggins, Lenora Peterson, Charlee Sims and Cameron Morrow.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Saturday, November 1st, from 10-11 a.m. at Columbia Methodist Church, 315 South 16th Street, West Columbia.  Her funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church.  Interment will follow at Old Columbia Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Ben Loggins, Todd Loggins, Coy Sims, Ray Sisson, Matt Peterson, Clayton Ganze and Jayce Garza.

Honorary Pallbearers: Eastern Star Chapter #705 and St. John’s Masonic Lodge #5 members.

Donna Ruth Chesney Loggins will be remembered for her devotion to family, her lifelong musical gifts, her entrepreneurial leadership in a cherished local business, and her warm, ongoing commitment to civic and historical organizations. Her life touched generations in West Columbia and beyond, and her legacy of service, music, and community stewardship will be treasured by all who knew her.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.ctbakerfuneral.com