Donald Fraser

Donald L. "Don" Fraser, Jr., 90, a Bartlesville resident, died on June 8, 2011 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. A native Missourian, Don was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on August 9, 1920, to Donald L. and Myrtle R. Fraser. He received his early education in the St. Joseph public schools and furthered his schooling by attending Missouri Western State University of St. Joseph. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. He was a carrier pilot aboard the aircraft carrier USS Sergeant Bay, flying the TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber and the aircraft carrier USS Midway flying the SB2C Helldiver. He received four decorations for Meritorious Action in the American, Asiatic-Pacific, Philippine Sea and Philippine Campaigns with Four Bronze Battle Stars. His squadron was also awarded a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. At the end of World War II, he returned to inactive duty from the Navy in October 1945. Following his return to civilian life, he was employed by the Standard Oil Company of Indiana, headquartered in St. Joseph; Airsearch Inc. of Los Angeles, California; and Quaker Oats Company, Salina, Kansas. He and Patricia J. Winders were married on July 27, 1951 in Salina. In August 1952, he was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company and he and his family moved to Bartlesville, with later transfers to Lafayette, Louisiana, Houston and Midland, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Denver, Colorado, where he held various land positions. From 1975 through 1982, he was assigned to the Bartlesville based Latin America-Asia Division of the International Department where he was the Negotiator and Negotiations Coordinator for Asia. At that time most negotiations were taking place in Papua, New Guinea, Australia and Indonesia. He was then loaned to the Phillips Uranium Company as Land Director. Subsequent to the Three Mile Island incident, Phillips abandoned its mining operations at Crown Point, New Mexico. He remained in Albuquerque as Land Director for Phillips Strategic Minerals Division prior to returning to Phillips Petroleum Company, Exploration & Production Department in Denver, Colorado. He retired on August 1, 1985. Don was a life-long member of churches of the Baptist faith, an endowed member of the Charity Lodge, No. 331, St. Joseph, Missouri, The Scottish Rite, Salina, Kansas, Akdar Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., Tulsa, Oklahoma, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and a past member of the Adams Golf Course Operating Committee. His name is inscribed on the Wall of Honor, Bartlesville, and the national World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C. Don is survived by son, Mark E. Fraser, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; daughters, Celeste Fraser, Allyson Linehan and Nan Rieger, all of Bartlesville, Dana Mattingly of Floral Park, New York and Jennifer Alexander of Ballwin, Missouri; 14 grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters; nephew, George Fraser; and niece, Diane Carlson, both of Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Patricia J. Fraser; his brother, Robert E. Fraser; and grandchild, Little Gary. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 11, in the chapel of the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Dr. John Snook will officiate. Visitation with family present will be held from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10, in the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home, 710 S. Dewey, Bartlesville. The family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions in Don's memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. On Sunday, June 12, private family final committal rites will be accorded on the family plot of Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Visitation Details

Friday, June 10th, 2011 6:00pm - 9:00pm, Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home

Service Details

Saturday, June 11th, 2011 2:00pm, Colonial Chapel, Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home

Interment Details

Memorial Park Cemetery