Charles "Don" Findley

When Don was 5 years old, his mother died of tuberculosis. He and Audeen were cared for by various aunts and their paternal grandmother, Mary Adele Findley. Several years later, his father married Henrietta Marie Koch. She was a loving and dedicated stepmother.

Don and Audeen attended school in Coyville for a short duration before moving to Fredonia, KS. Don graduated from Fredonia High School in 1946. He attended Independence Junior College for one year before completing his education at Wichita State University with a degree in business administration.

Don was drafted into the Korean War in January 1951. He served in Alpha Company, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division (U.S. Army). He was honorably released two years later at the rank of Sergeant. He fought on the front lines and had recently shared stories of running across mine fields and hunkering down in fox holes.

When Don returned to his ‘hometown’ of Fredonia, he accepted a job as an accountant for General Portland Cement. He was introduced to the new math teacher in town at a local diner and later married that beauty on July 4th, 1958. Over the next few years, Don and Joyce (Ellis) welcomed two daughters, Stacia and Erin. The family moved to Richardson, TX, in 1966 when Don transferred employment to Trinity Concrete in Dallas. In 1972, they moved to Edmond, OK when Don took a job with Dolese. He ultimately retired from Dolese in 1994 as the controller. After he retired, he decided to take a job with the Census. He really enjoyed traveling all over central OK and meeting and visiting with a wide range of people. Unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t always mutual.

Don had a passion for music, reading, bridge, and crossword puzzles. He and Joyce adored their grandchildren and generously spoiled them. They took the families on many memorable vacations to Destin, FL.

They were members of the First Baptist Church of Edmond, where Don enjoyed singing in the choir and playing the trombone. He peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 8th, 2025. He was 96.

Charles “Don” Findley was preceded in death by his father Malcolm Webb Findley, mother Ruth Ellen (Duckworth) Findley, stepmother Henrietta (Koch) Findley, wife Joyce (Ellis) Findley, and sister Audeen Reynolds. He is survived by two daughters, Stacia (Findley) Kliewer and husband Greg of Edmond, daughter Erin (Findley) Gilbert of Tulsa and fiancé Brian Fogt; beloved family member Steve Gilbert of Stroud, Oklahoma; Sister-in-law Karan (Bumpus) McDonald and husband Joe of Edmond; six grandchildren, Kristen Joyce (Kliewer) Baird and husband James of Edmond, Kaitlin Elise (Kliewer) Radford and husband Griffin of Edmond, Caleb Findley Kliewer and wife Ashton (Ramer) of Jones, Eric Findley Gilbert and wife Katlyn (Ford) of Tulsa, Scott Franklin Gilbert of Richardson, Texas and Mary Ellis Gilbert and fiancé Conor Darnell of Paris, Texas; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at the Memorial Park Funeral Home, 13313 N. Kelley Ave, OKC on Friday from 5pm – 7pm. A graveside service will be held Saturday, Oct 18th, at 11 am at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13400 N. Kelley Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73131.

Don will be laid to rest in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.