Don V.

Hester

Don V. Hester, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather peacefully left this earth to reunite with his wife and soulmate, Ann, on October 17, 2020.

Don was born on January 16, 1928, in Blanchard, Oklahoma to Dean and Georgia Hester. The family moved west to New Mexico when he was two. Don grew up in the mountains near Pie Town and Datil where they homesteaded and ranched. He had many boyhood adventures. Don was an expert horseman for most of his life. His father, a rancher and businessman, taught Don many skills and life lessons. His mother, a teacher, encouraged him in his studies and in life.

The family moved back to Oklahoma at the end of WWII. Don attended Norman High School and the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, where he learned to fly. He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in Petroleum Engineering.

In 1949, Don married the love of his life, Anna Lou Hopkins, of Blanchard.

After graduating from OU in 1951, Don was called into the Army to fulfill an ROTC obligation. He was sent to Japan with the 120th Combat Engineer Battalion of the 45th Infantry Division. They were soon sent to Korea and landed at Inchon in Higgins boats. Don served in Korea as the company's Commanding Officer. The combat engineers built bridges, airport runways, cleared minefields, and were often under fire. Don was good at inventing solutions for challenging problems. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious service.

Don returned home and went back to OU earning a master's degree in Petroleum Engineering. He began a rewarding relationship with Texaco, working in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Don was well known and widely respected in the oil industry, forging lifelong professional and personal friendships. Don and Ann were involved in charitable & social organizations associated with the oil industry. He retired as an Assistant Vice President for Texaco in Houston. Don's work ethic and dedication were appreciated by his company and colleagues. He won many awards and citations over the years and was inducted to the Legion of Honor in the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Don and Ann moved over 20 times during their marriage and were always active in the local Presbyterian church. Don served as Elder or Deacon in several churches and was a founding member of Kingwood Presbyterian Church in Kingwood, Texas.

Don enjoyed many hobbies. He had a love of knowledge, read voraciously and was a history buff. Don enjoyed music and taught himself to play the harmonica, the dulcimer and the piano. He especially liked horseback riding and sailing. He and Ann sailed as often as possible, from charting a route from Houston to New Orleans to sailing the barrier islands. Don taught his family to sail and had a happy and willing crew. He kept a log, could navigate with the stars and enjoyed the water spray on his face on a windy sea.

Don and Ann had 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Don loved them all and immensely enjoyed family gatherings. He would bellow out "On Top of Old Smokey" and "Boomer Sooner", the OU fight song, to the complete delight (usually) of his family. Don's love of family was deep and true. He taught his brood that your word is your bond and to do the right thing. He treated everyone with respect and enjoyed conversing with people. Don's sense of humor was legendary, always teasing and making everyone laugh. The love and life he shared with his beautiful wife, Ann, for 70 years of marriage was inspirational.

Don V. Hester, beloved husband of the late Anna Lou Hopkins Hester, son of the late Dean V. and Georgia Harris Hester, son-in law of the late Christopher (C.C.) and Mary Delma Hopkins, father to Douglas V. Hester (Gwen-late), Savannah C. Hester, Shelley L. Lawrence and Daniel C. Hester (Melanie), Grandfather (Papa') to Douglas's children, Zachary D. Hester (Lori), Nicholas D. Hester. Savannah's children: Joshua J. Hester (April), Alisha G. Hester, Chelsea M. Hester (Durvin). Shelley's children: Jessica L. Lawrence, Kayla L. Martynenko (Anton). Daniel's children: Adrian C. Hester and Tristen K. Hester. Great-grandfather to Maliah Ecker, Django Gaffney, Violet Hester, Donovan Gaffney, Elliott Hester, Hayden Hester, Elliana Ecker, Ivanna Ackel, Valentina Ackel, Angelica Martynenko and bonus great grandsons, Tanner Rodriquez and Tyler Rodriquez.

A private funeral was held on October 31, 2020, at Eisenhour Funeral Home in Blanchard, Oklahoma.

The Celebration of Life Memorial with family and friends will be on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 11am at The First United Methodist Church at 1101 N Main Street, Blanchard, Oklahoma 73010.  Military Honors will follow at the Blanchard Cemetery.  Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.eisenhourfh.com.