Don M. Frensley

Don M. Frensley was born Feb. 16, 1924, in Duncan, to Frank Washington Frensley and Nancy Elizabeth (Fitzhugh) Frensley. He died on March 1, 2015, in Centennial, Colo. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church, 235 West Duffy, Norman, OK. He was the fourth son of six children. He had four brothers and one sister. Don's family lived in Duncan throughout his lifetime. He was schooled in Duncan Public Schools, where he graduated in May 1941. In high school, Don was involved in student council, serving as president his senior year. He attended Oklahoma Boys State in 1940. He left Duncan in August 1941 to attend the University of Oklahoma. He was working on a degree in business administration when he was inducted into the United States Air Force on April 7, 1943. He entered active duty on April 26 of that year, in San Antonio, and ultimately was based on the South Pacific island of Saipan. Staff Sgt. Don M. Frensley, age 19, spent the next two years as a radio operator on a B-29 ""Super Fortress,"" flying 35 combat missions over enemy-occupied Tokyo and the Japanese mainland. He operated and maintained transmitting and receiving equipment. Don's most fascinating war story was when his airplane was rammed by a Japanese fighter plane as they were returning from a raid on Japan on Dec. 3, 1944. The No. 3 engine was knocked out. The plane dropped 600 feet and suddenly depressurized, forcing his crew into oxygen masks. Twenty-five to 30 enemy fighters were reported within range, but miraculously, Don's crew maneuvered their crippled plane 1500 miles home, a 15-hour flight with no radio. Don was honorably discharged from the Air Force on Nov. 3, 1945. Don returned to the University of Oklahoma and to his high school girlfriend, Betty Jane Sharp. They married in Duncan on April 6, 1947. He earned his degree in business administration on May 31, 1948. Don worked for the university as an internal auditor and later as chief accountant. In 1957, he left the university and went to work for The Norman Transcript, where he worked until it was sold to the Donrey Media Group in 1985. He had worked his way up from business manager to publisher. Don loved his community and was very active in Norman civic groups, committees and boards. He was a member of the Norman Jaycees, Norman Rotary Club, Sooner Toastmasters, served on the Norman Planning Commission and the board of directors of Security National Bank. He served as president of the Jaycees, Norman Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Red Cross and the United Way of Norman. He was a founding member of the Norman Family YMCA, Norman Public Schools' Foundation, Norman Community Foundation and University President's Associates. Don was active at St. John's Episcopal Church serving as treasurer and senior warden of the Vestry. In his retirement years, he remained active in Rotary, was a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, a member and president of the Leaders Plus Seniors and a docent for the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. Don and Betty loved to travel. They spent 18 years of retirement seeing the world. They also loved the Oklahoma Sooners, attending football and basketball games well into their 80s. In 2010, Don and Betty moved from Norman to Centennial, Colo., to be closer to family. Don was a people person and always had a smile and a helping hand for everyone he met. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and great-uncle. He defined honesty, altruism, integrity, loyalty and generosity by his example. He blessed the lives of everyone who knew him. Don is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Lynn, Frank Jr. and Gabe Frensley; his sister, Betty Frensley; and grandson, Patrick Frensley. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jane Frensley of Centennial, Colo.; son, Mark Frensley (Sherri Smith) of Marietta, Ga.; daughters Marcia L. Frensley of Denver and Kristen K. Carr (Tim) of Centennial, Colo.; one brother, James M. Frensley of Duncan; five grandchildren, Jenny E. Urice of Denver, Julie A. Liddell (Andy) of Austin, Texas and Katherine U. Noble (Kyle) of Denver; Michael T. Carr of Boulder, Colo.; and Ryan D. Carr of Centennial, Colo. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, 455 Sherman St., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203 or Christian Living Communities Resident Assistance-Holly Creek, 5500 E. Peakview Ave., Centennial, CO 80121. Please share your memories of Don and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.