Donald Ray Alexander, age 92, of Stillwater, was born December 29, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri to Carol and Reba (Schupp) Alexander. He passed away at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Bible Baptist Church with burial following in Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater. As a devoted Christian, Don was ready to start the next part of his journey with Christ.
Don grew up during the Second World War. He lied about his age during the war so he could get a job working for Sheffield Steel while he was in high school, which he graduated at the age of 16! He spent over 2 ½ years working for Sheffield Steel until the family moved and he followed. He spent a year working on the family farm before enlisting in the Navy. He originally enlisted for 3 years, but a couple months before he was to get out the Korean War started. He was held in the navy for another year and fought during this war. His ship was one of the first to land American troops in Korea.
When he got out of the navy, he got a job working with Gleaner Harvester making combines. When the company went on strike, he moved jobs again and went to work for General Motors where he helped build an engine for the jet fighters the U.S. used in Korea. He met Mary Schupp at Blue Spring Baptist Church and married her in Kansas City on July 17, 1953. After marrying he decided he needed to get a college degree. He attended Finlay Engineering in Kansas City while supporting his wife and first born, becoming the first in his family to get a degree. After graduation he got a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a job shop company. He worked on secret government contracts details unknown. He also worked at 3M on the very first copy machine. When the recession hit, he found a job in Missouri at the maximum-security prison. He managed several factories in the prison where the prisoners did physical labor, managing 10 to 12 industries after 5 years. He designed furniture that was built for state institutions and learned to fly a plane as a hobby.
An ad was placed for an industries manager for a new medium security prison in Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Don applied for and got the job and the family soon moved once again. Once there, he had to buy and set up equipment for their industries and a few years later was promoted to head the industries in the maximum-security prison in Waupon, Wisconsin. He worked on an automatic license plate machine, for which he held several patents. During this time, Don and Mary raised their five kids. He spent over 10 years working in Wisconsin before the family moved to Arkansas. He spent a little bit of time working for a company that made license plates before retiring, but he did not stay retired long and within a year had gotten a job with Mercury Marine. The family moved to and remained in the Stillwater and Ripley areas and have been here since 1977. Don stayed with Mercury Marine until his retirement at age 65. Even after his retirement he remained active. He was a devoted Christian, and he often spent time in his shop inventing new things that can be found scattered around the house. He got to watch his 7 grand-kids and 2 great-grand-kids grow up.
Donald was proceeded in death by his parents, his daughter Paula Stoll, his brother Terry Alexander, and his cousin Arvel Alexander. He is survived by his wife Mary Alexander; three sons: Leroy David Alexander, Paul Lee Alexander, and James Ray Alexander and his wife Patricia; his daughter Patricia Carol Walker; 7 grandchildren: Nicholas Alexander, Rachel Walker, Erin Stoll, Katelyn Walker, Steven Stoll, Anna Bizzell, and Tré Diaz; 2 great-grandchildren, Jacob Bizzell and Aubree Bizzell; his brother Dale Alexander; his sister Carol Hudson; and his cousins John Alexander and Paul Alexander.
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Don grew up during the Second World War. He lied about his age during the war so he could get a job working for Sheffield Steel while he was in high school, which he graduated at the age of 16! He spent over 2 ½ years working for Sheffield Steel until the family moved and he followed. He spent a year working on the family farm before enlisting in the Navy. He originally enlisted for 3 years, but a couple months before he was to get out the Korean War started. He was held in the navy for another year and fought during this war. His ship was one of the first to land American troops in Korea.
When he got out of the navy, he got a job working with Gleaner Harvester making combines. When the company went on strike, he moved jobs again and went to work for General Motors where he helped build an engine for the jet fighters the U.S. used in Korea. He met Mary Schupp at Blue Spring Baptist Church and married her in Kansas City on July 17, 1953. After marrying he decided he needed to get a college degree. He attended Finlay Engineering in Kansas City while supporting his wife and first born, becoming the first in his family to get a degree. After graduation he got a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a job shop company. He worked on secret government contracts details unknown. He also worked at 3M on the very first copy machine. When the recession hit, he found a job in Missouri at the maximum-security prison. He managed several factories in the prison where the prisoners did physical labor, managing 10 to 12 industries after 5 years. He designed furniture that was built for state institutions and learned to fly a plane as a hobby.
An ad was placed for an industries manager for a new medium security prison in Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Don applied for and got the job and the family soon moved once again. Once there, he had to buy and set up equipment for their industries and a few years later was promoted to head the industries in the maximum-security prison in Waupon, Wisconsin. He worked on an automatic license plate machine, for which he held several patents. During this time, Don and Mary raised their five kids. He spent over 10 years working in Wisconsin before the family moved to Arkansas. He spent a little bit of time working for a company that made license plates before retiring, but he did not stay retired long and within a year had gotten a job with Mercury Marine. The family moved to and remained in the Stillwater and Ripley areas and have been here since 1977. Don stayed with Mercury Marine until his retirement at age 65. Even after his retirement he remained active. He was a devoted Christian, and he often spent time in his shop inventing new things that can be found scattered around the house. He got to watch his 7 grand-kids and 2 great-grand-kids grow up.
Donald was proceeded in death by his parents, his daughter Paula Stoll, his brother Terry Alexander, and his cousin Arvel Alexander. He is survived by his wife Mary Alexander; three sons: Leroy David Alexander, Paul Lee Alexander, and James Ray Alexander and his wife Patricia; his daughter Patricia Carol Walker; 7 grandchildren: Nicholas Alexander, Rachel Walker, Erin Stoll, Katelyn Walker, Steven Stoll, Anna Bizzell, and Tré Diaz; 2 great-grandchildren, Jacob Bizzell and Aubree Bizzell; his brother Dale Alexander; his sister Carol Hudson; and his cousins John Alexander and Paul Alexander.
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Donald Ray Alexander, age 92, of Stillwater, was born December 29, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri to Carol and Reba (Schupp) Alexander. He passed away at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Bible Baptist Church with burial following in Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater. As a devoted Christian, Don was ready to start the next part of his journey with Christ.
Don grew up during the Second World War. He lied about his age during the war so he could get a job working for Sheffield Steel while he was in high school, which he graduated at the age of 16! He spent over 2 ½ years working for Sheffield Steel until the family moved and he followed. He spent a year working on the family farm before enlisting in the Navy. He originally enlisted for 3 years, but a couple months before he was to get out the Korean War started. He was held in the navy for another year and fought during this war. His ship was one of the first to land American troops in Korea.
When he got out of the navy, he got a job working with Gleaner Harvester making combines. When the company went on strike, he moved jobs again and went to work for General Motors where he helped build an engine for the jet fighters the U.S. used in Korea. He met Mary Schupp at Blue Spring Baptist Church and married her in Kansas City on July 17, 1953. After marrying he decided he needed to get a college degree. He attended Finlay Engineering in Kansas City while supporting his wife and first born, becoming the first in his family to get a degree. After graduation he got a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a job shop company. He worked on secret government contracts details unknown. He also worked at 3M on the very first copy machine. When the recession hit, he found a job in Missouri at the maximum-security prison. He managed several factories in the prison where the prisoners did physical labor, managing 10 to 12 industries after 5 years. He designed furniture that was built for state institutions and learned to fly a plane as a hobby.
An ad was placed for an industries manager for a new medium security prison in Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Don applied for and got the job and the family soon moved once again. Once there, he had to buy and set up equipment for their industries and a few years later was promoted to head the industries in the maximum-security prison in Waupon, Wisconsin. He worked on an automatic license plate machine, for which he held several patents. During this time, Don and Mary raised their five kids. He spent over 10 years working in Wisconsin before the family moved to Arkansas. He spent a little bit of time working for a company that made license plates before retiring, but he did not stay retired long and within a year had gotten a job with Mercury Marine. The family moved to and remained in the Stillwater and Ripley areas and have been here since 1977. Don stayed with Mercury Marine until his retirement at age 65. Even after his retirement he remained active. He was a devoted Christian, and he often spent time in his shop inventing new things that can be found scattered around the house. He got to watch his 7 grand-kids and 2 great-grand-kids grow up.
Donald was proceeded in death by his parents, his daughter Paula Stoll, his brother Terry Alexander, and his cousin Arvel Alexander. He is survived by his wife Mary Alexander; three sons: Leroy David Alexander, Paul Lee Alexander, and James Ray Alexander and his wife Patricia; his daughter Patricia Carol Walker; 7 grandchildren: Nicholas Alexander, Rachel Walker, Erin Stoll, Katelyn Walker, Steven Stoll, Anna Bizzell, and Tré Diaz; 2 great-grandchildren, Jacob Bizzell and Aubree Bizzell; his brother Dale Alexander; his sister Carol Hudson; and his cousins John Alexander and Paul Alexander.
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Don grew up during the Second World War. He lied about his age during the war so he could get a job working for Sheffield Steel while he was in high school, which he graduated at the age of 16! He spent over 2 ½ years working for Sheffield Steel until the family moved and he followed. He spent a year working on the family farm before enlisting in the Navy. He originally enlisted for 3 years, but a couple months before he was to get out the Korean War started. He was held in the navy for another year and fought during this war. His ship was one of the first to land American troops in Korea.
When he got out of the navy, he got a job working with Gleaner Harvester making combines. When the company went on strike, he moved jobs again and went to work for General Motors where he helped build an engine for the jet fighters the U.S. used in Korea. He met Mary Schupp at Blue Spring Baptist Church and married her in Kansas City on July 17, 1953. After marrying he decided he needed to get a college degree. He attended Finlay Engineering in Kansas City while supporting his wife and first born, becoming the first in his family to get a degree. After graduation he got a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a job shop company. He worked on secret government contracts details unknown. He also worked at 3M on the very first copy machine. When the recession hit, he found a job in Missouri at the maximum-security prison. He managed several factories in the prison where the prisoners did physical labor, managing 10 to 12 industries after 5 years. He designed furniture that was built for state institutions and learned to fly a plane as a hobby.
An ad was placed for an industries manager for a new medium security prison in Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Don applied for and got the job and the family soon moved once again. Once there, he had to buy and set up equipment for their industries and a few years later was promoted to head the industries in the maximum-security prison in Waupon, Wisconsin. He worked on an automatic license plate machine, for which he held several patents. During this time, Don and Mary raised their five kids. He spent over 10 years working in Wisconsin before the family moved to Arkansas. He spent a little bit of time working for a company that made license plates before retiring, but he did not stay retired long and within a year had gotten a job with Mercury Marine. The family moved to and remained in the Stillwater and Ripley areas and have been here since 1977. Don stayed with Mercury Marine until his retirement at age 65. Even after his retirement he remained active. He was a devoted Christian, and he often spent time in his shop inventing new things that can be found scattered around the house. He got to watch his 7 grand-kids and 2 great-grand-kids grow up.
Donald was proceeded in death by his parents, his daughter Paula Stoll, his brother Terry Alexander, and his cousin Arvel Alexander. He is survived by his wife Mary Alexander; three sons: Leroy David Alexander, Paul Lee Alexander, and James Ray Alexander and his wife Patricia; his daughter Patricia Carol Walker; 7 grandchildren: Nicholas Alexander, Rachel Walker, Erin Stoll, Katelyn Walker, Steven Stoll, Anna Bizzell, and Tré Diaz; 2 great-grandchildren, Jacob Bizzell and Aubree Bizzell; his brother Dale Alexander; his sister Carol Hudson; and his cousins John Alexander and Paul Alexander.
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