Billy Dean Donovan

Billy Dean Donovan was born November 4, 1929, in Spearman, Texas. He died August 8, 2026 at the age of 96. His family suffered through Scarlet fever, Typhoid fever, the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. His father Carl Donovan passed away when Bill was only 6. His mother Pearl Jacoby Donovan raised four sons Gilbert, Harold, Lyle and Bill on her own.

Bill graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City, attended OBU and joined the US Navy during the Korean War. He served four years as a Medical Corpsman with the First Marine Division and returned to OBU where he graduated in 1955.

He met Peggy Galloway at OBU of Shawnee, OK and they married in 1953.

Bill pastored Southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma and Texas. He served as a Hospital Chaplain before becoming the Chaplain at Oklahoma State Penitentiary. After retirement from O.S.P. they moved back to Shawnee, and he worked for the Baptist Home Mission Board in O.K.C. They then moved to Atlanta, GA to work for the Baptist Home Mission Board in the Racetrack Chaplaincy Dept.

Bill and Peggy retired to Shawnee and Peggy died on April 5, 2014. Bill married JoAnna Alexander in 2016.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Pearl Donovan and first wife, Peggy Galloway Donovan.

Bill is survived by daughter, Rebecca Donovan, son, Steve and wife Lisa Corrente Donovan, daughter, Cynthia and husband Lynn Wallis, and daughter, Lori Donovan, grandchildren, Brody Wallis and wife Cami, Reese Wallis and wife Kayle, Benjamin Donovan and Naomi Donovan, and second wife, JoAnna Alexander Donovan.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service on Thursday, August 13th from 1-5pm and Friday, August 14th from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm with family present to greet friends from 5-7pm. A funeral ceremony for Bill will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Walker Funeral Chapel with Arthur Scrutchins officiating. Following the ceremony, Bill will be laid to rest with military honors at Fairview Cemetery.