Donald “Don” Wayne Strube was born on November 28, 1929 in Kinsley, Kansas to Ralph Harrison Strube and Sarah Opal (Grogan) Strube. He peacefully left this earth on October 21, 2018, in Choctaw, Oklahoma surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edward, Edwin, Marion, Dwain and Maynard Strube.
He was also preceded in death by his grandson, Jason Boltz and ex-wife, Joyce Lloyd. Donald’s early life started in southwest Kansas surrounded by family and… Read More » church every Sunday. He spent all his school years in Kinsley, Kansas where he graduated from high school in 1949.
He later attended Dodge City Junior College on a football scholarship and started working at AT&T Long Lines. In 1951 in Kinsley, Donald married Joyce Lloyd and later had the honor to join the United States Air Force. He was deployed for a tour of duty in Korea with the 75th Air Depot Wing.
Donald was discharged from the United States Air Force in 1953 and started working for an independent telephone company in Hutchison, Kansas. Donald and Joyce had four children during their marriage, Linda, Becky, Gene and Jani. Donald and Joyce later divorced.
Early his is working career, Donald became part owner of the independent telephone company and bought 18 telephone companies which later converted to dial telephone service and was sold to Continental Telephone Company in 1968. He would advance to the title of State Manager West Division within Continental, managing over 42 telephone exchanges. Donald later transferred to Choctaw, Oklahoma as State Manager in November 1976 and remarried to Alyne Major in December 1976.
Alyne has four children from a previous marriage, Terry, Randall, Sheryl (deceased at age 1) and LeAnna. Continental later sold to Telephone and Data Systems in 1979. Donald would continue to work as state manager until he advanced to Vice President at TDS.
Donald retired in June 1996 with over 45 years in the telephone industry. After retirement, Donald enjoyed staying busy with the two duplex apartment complexes that Donald and Alyne purchased in 1979 and their car wash and convenient store they built in 1983. Donald also enjoyed traveling with family and friends through his early retirement years.
He also enjoyed working in his shop and was very passionate about all things related to football and basketball, especially the Kansas University Jayhawks. Above all, Donald was most interested in participating in the activities of his family, friends and community. Donald’s Christian values and beliefs served as a guidepost for his willingness to do his part for both the telephone industry and his community.
Throughout his 88 years on earth, Donald served on many boards and councils in various capacities and received many honors, awards and accolades as well. Donald served as member of many organizations, including the following: Board of Education for Sylvia, Kansas and Arlington, Kansas, Choctaw/Nicoma Park School Foundation, Choctaw Lions Club, Choctaw Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Board of Equalization, chairman of Choctaw Economic Development Authority and member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Donald was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to all.
He was a man of few words but never missed an opportunity to help someone in need or to make someone laugh with his quick-witted one-liners and infectious smile. His goal in life was to love and be loved in return and that was most evident with his love and devotion to God, his wife Alyne and his family. He is survived by his wife, Alyne Strube, Choctaw, Oklahoma and his children, Linda Boltz and husband, Bob, Sterling, Kansas, Becky Schechter of Lyons, Kansas, Gene Strube and wife, Diane, Oklahoma City, and Janice Gray and husband, Tony, Chandler, Oklahoma.
He is also survived by his stepchildren Terry Johnson, Choctaw, Oklahoma, Randall Major and wife, Vernell, Hays, Kansas and LeAnna Larson and husband, Chris, Newcastle, Oklahoma. In addition, Donald is survived by 23 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren. The family extends their gratitude to Don’s family, friends, Providence Home Care and Oklahoma Palliative & Hospice Care who have assisted him throughout his later years.
In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully welcomes donations be made in Don’s honor to either the Choctaw Veterans Memorial or St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Midwest City, OK. Viewing will be Wed. 12PM-8PM and Thurs.
8AM-8PM with family present from 6PM-8PM at Barnes Friederich Funeral Home in Midwest City, OK. A funeral service will be 2PM, Fri. Oct.
26, 2018 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Midwest City, OK. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Choctaw, OK.
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