ROANOKE, VA – Donnie Myers, fleet/risk manager for Western Virginia Water Authority, passed away May 8 from cancer. He was 75.

Prior to joining Western Virginia Water Authority in 2004, Myers worked for General Electric for three decades as manager of information systems in Fort Wayne, Ind. He also worked for Roanoke County from 1987-2000, first hired as a director of information technology and then promoted to assistant county administrator.

During his employment with the County of Roanoke, he was instrumental in many innovative changes to the structure and organization of the county. He was responsible for the organization and planning of the new police department in 1989 and also served as the coordinator for the Sister Cities Program.

Water authority director Bob Benninger said Myers took "two pretty dissimilar work cultures and created a new work culture between the city and county." Benninger said Myers coordinated all the employee teams and "kept everybody from killing each other," as reported by The Roanoke Times.

Myers graduated from New Castle High School and entered the United States Air Force, where he served four years during the Korean War. After he was discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant, he entered VPI & SU, where he earned a B.S. degree in business administration and Masters Degree in public administration. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity.

Myers is survived by his fiance, Diana Miller-Irwin; sons, Kenneth Myers and Jeffrey C. Myers and wife, Diana; granddaughter, Madison; sisters and brothers-in-law, Toni M. and Coleman Doss; Cathy M. and Michael Bostic; niece, Lauren M. Doss; nephew, Gregory M. Bostic; numerous cousins; and many wonderful friends.

Celebration of Donnie's life will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the New Castle Christian Church in New Castle, Va.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the New Castle Christian Church Building Fund.

To view Myers' full obituary, click here.