Donna Maureen Newcomb

Newcomb, Donna Maureen

October 26, 1933 – November 1, 2023

Donna Maureen Pogue Newcomb was born October 26, 1933 at Arkansas City, Kansas to Powell Clayton and Lorene Opal Davis Pogue.  She went to elementary school there.  During her high school years her family lived in several states as her father followed the steamfitter’s trade.  During her senior year in Sedan Kansas she met Bill Newcomb at a rodeo.  He was going to high school in Peru Kansas.  They both lived in Chautauqua Kansas at that time.  Bill would become her best friend and love of her life.

After graduating high school Donna went to Nursing School in Wichita, but left before finishing because of a rule that students could not marry till after graduation.  She and Bill were married March 14, 1953 in Chautauqua.  They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Married that many years, they counted many blessings - their family being the best.

After marriage they moved to Tulsa where Bill was employed by Otis Elevator for 38 years until retirement.  They moved to Oologah in 1964 while the lake was being filled.  Donna designed their home which Bill then built on a bluff overlooking the soon to be Oologah Lake.

Donna stayed busy with the family, Boy and Girl Scout groups, and Modern Priscilla Club (a county home extension club).  She was a teacher’s aide in the new Oologah High School Reading Lab, until Bill’s job took them to Little Rock, Arkansas.  There she became a proofreader at a publishing company.  After his retirement they travelled all over the United States. Grandchildren in Oregon provided a reason to travel there by a different route each time.  They also enjoyed cruising.  Alaska was their favorite.  During two Hawaiian cruises they renewed their vows each time.

When the Cowboy Country Fellowship formed in Oologah they were original members.  It moved to Talala and the first few years were quite an adventure, with Donna being baptized in the pond at 80 years old.  She considered it one of her greatest life honors to help design their new church building.  They are currently members of the Methodist Church in Oologah.

Donna was preceded in death by her son in law Danny Chaffin.  She is survived by her husband Bill; sister Luana Brennan of Lees Summit MO; children Bill Jr and wife Jackie of Owasso, Steven of Oologah, Laurie Chaffin of Muskogee, Jeff of Oologah; grandchildren Jessie and Wes Phelps, Lisa Newcomb, Todd Newcomb, David and Sharon Antinoja, Shauna and Rob Padgett, Joey and Jami Chaffin, Shane Chaffin; great grandchildren Samantha Phelps, Mallory Phelps, Kylie Bauer, Rylie Bauer, Emma Padgett, Shane Chaffin Jr, Haley Chaffin, Eric Antinoja, Andrew Antinoja, and many nieces and nephews.

A Life Celebration will be held at Oologah United Methodist Church on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 2:00 pm.  Services are entrusted to Dolton Funeral Home of Collinsville.  In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Oologah United Methodist Church Youth Group.