Donovan Fravel

Donovan Fravel, or Don or Donnie by his family, began his life in Owensville, Indiana on June 1, 1933, the son of Melvin and Sarah Ellen (Mauck) Fravel. Don made his parents and country proud serving in the United States Navy from 1951 until 1955, during the Korean War. Before his final deployment, he met a young lady dipping ice cream for the local restaurant that was just 16 at the time. A moment that would spark a lasting love was marked when he leaned over and said “what ya doing there girl”, in which she replied, “I’m dipping ice cream”. In letters home, he kept tabs on her over the next 18 months. After returning to Indiana, he could not wait to “bump” into Nancy Odom. From that meeting, an amazing future was built spanning a lifetime together and on August 25th, 1956 they were married in Northwest Territory, Fort Branch, Indiana. They were blessed with three children, Steven, David, and Julie. Don worked hard for his family, first attending Lane Institute of Technology and then going on to spend 26 years with John Deere and finally 8 years as an engineer with United Technologies, building fighter planes. He was a member of several associations including the (ASAE) American Society of Automotive Engineering. Life’s adventures took him to a few different places in his life, living in Florida, Iowa, Indiana, and then settling in Tahlequah in 2010. Don was a quiet man that kept to himself, and was content just being around his family. A Christian by faith, he was a deacon and a member of First Baptist Church. Don was a friend to everyone and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Julie Holt and one brother, Thomas Heckman.

Left to cherish his memory include his wife, Nancy Fravel of the home, two sons, Steven L. Fravel and wife Dawn of Des Moines, IA, David Donovan Fravel and wife Sarah of Sioux Falls, SD, eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren, as well as a host of friends and loved ones.

Donovan Fravel was laid to rest at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, OK. Memorial Service for Donovan will be held on Friday, May 15th, 2020 at 10:00am. Online condolences for his family my be left at www.reedculver.com.