Billy Dean Donovan passed away Aug. 8, 2026 at the age of 96. He was born Nov. 4, 1929, in Spearman, TX. 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 OKC. 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.
Services were held on Aug. 15, 2026 at the Walker Funeral Chapel with Arthur Scrutchins officiating. Following the ceremony, Bill was laid to rest with military honors at Fairview Cemetery.
