Donald Donovan Woothtakewahbitty
Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy

Donald Donovan Woothtakewahbitty was born on 13 December 1937, in Lawton, OK, to Owen and Velma Mihecoby Woothtakewahbitty. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1956 and then attended Haskell Indian Junior College where received an Associate's degree in Welding.

He enlisted in the Army National Guard on 5 July 1955 in Lawton and was discharged on 14 February 1957. Donald enlisted in the Navy on 2 June 1959. He served as a Shipfitter (Metal Smith) Petty Officer Second Class on the USS Dixie at San Diego, CA, until 16 November 1961. He received a Navy Good Conduct Medal. He transferred to the Eighth Naval District as a Reserve until 3 May 1963.

Post-Military Life

Donald worked for the caretaker for Little Washita Cemetery for many years. He also worked for Weyerhaeuser and the AA Fence Company. He taught welding for one year at Elgin Public Schools. Je worked at Sequoyah Carpet Mill as Supervisor, Riverside Indian School as Residential Adviser, and retired from the Lawton office of BIA Soil and Moisture Conservation.

Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending his time outdoors, golfing, working newspaper puzzles, jig saw puzzles, living on his farm, and spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren.

He was a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, Little Washita UMC, lifetime member FFA, lifetime member of the NRA, Comanche Golf Association and Comanche Indian Veterans Association.

Death and Burial

Petty Officer Second Class Donald Donovan Woothtakewahbitty died on 21 November 2012. He is buried at Little Washita Indian Cemetery in Comanche County, OK.

This Honoree Record was prepared with the valuable assistance of Lanny G. Asepermy, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.) [Honoree Record ID 227117], Historian for the Comanche Indian Veterans Association in Lawton, OK. Photo is courtesy of SMG Asepermy.