It is with great sorrow that we share with friends and loved ones that Donna Sue Israel Cobb died on the evening of June 18, 2025, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the care and company of loving family members. She was 66 years old. She was born on April 25, 1959, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Clifford Donald Israel and Betty Sue Israel, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 22 years and best friend, Donald Maurice “Donnie” Cobb.
Donna graduated from Spiro High School in eastern Oklahoma as Valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA. She attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a full scholarship. In 1982, she graduated from the UAMS College of Pharmacy in Little Rock, Arkansas, after which she began a long and varied career in the pharmacy industry, including some of the following roles: retail pharmacist, public health pharmacy consultant, pharmaceutical sales representative, inpatient pharmacy services team member, clinical director of home infusion pharmacy services, State Director of Pharmacy Services and Drug Control with the Arkansas Department of Health, and Director of Government Affairs for the Arkansas Pharmacy Association.
Donna struggled with a variety of chronic health conditions for many years, and her grief over the loss of her husband in August 2024 was devastating to her. This began an especially difficult period in her life, and her suffering during this time touches our hearts deeply. On June 8, she suffered a series of cardiovascular events that resulted in her hospitalization and multiple medical complications that prevented any possibility of recovery.
Donna had a beautiful smile that lit up any room and was a loving and bright figure in the lives of the many people she touched. She was devoted to the pharmacy profession and her family and friends. She loved to travel, read, and spend time with her husband and friends going to dinner, playing cards, and watching movies and sporting events. She will be missed by many!
She is survived by her brother, Perry Israel and his wife Sara; her niece, Maggie Israel; her stepdaughters and their husbands, McKinna and Jon Wallace and Brecken and Jesse Ermer; step grandchildren, Taten Wilsey, Jaxon Ermer, Izzy Ermer, and Madelyn Wallace; and a very special dog, Charlie Brown. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, John Cobb and his wife Sherry, and her niece-in-law, Shannon Rose and her husband Brandon, as well as other extended family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a memorial fund in Donna’s name that supports the nonprofit Partnership to End Addiction through the following link or QR code.
https://hope.drugfree.org/memorials/DonnaIsraelCobb
You may ask why we have we chosen this organization to honor Donna’s life. One in two Americans reports having a family member or close friend struggling with addiction. Addiction is a disease that impacts a staggering number of Americans. Yet so many individuals and families find it difficult to connect with the support and resources they need when navigating addiction. By supporting the Partnership to End Addiction, we can multiply our efforts to ensure every person in need finds the tools, resources and actionable support to help them thrive and help end the negative stigma of addiction. We believe that a contribution in Donna’s honor will promote a strong sense of unity and healing by connecting with others impacted by this disease. We also hope you will feel a sense of purpose in supporting efforts to help others avoid the tragic outcomes that oftentimes accompany addiction.
We appreciate your support during this difficult time. If you are so inclined, we welcome those of you who knew Donna and spent time with her to share memories that surround her in love and light as we send her on her way to join Donnie and other beloved family members and friends. We imagine Donna resting in peace with her beloved Donnie on top of Bear Mountain and other places that were special to them.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com