Donald Dean Fuss

of 92 where he is reunited with his cherished wife, Joyce.

Born Donald Dean Law in Ponca City, OK, the third child of Theodore Noel Law and Ruth

Lorene (Landon) Law, he was adopted by William F. and Opal Fuss of Medford, OK in August

1935 after his mother died of tuberculosis. His biological father was a laborer and unable to

care for three children. He had an older brother, Richard Ellis Law, and older sister, Maxine

Virginia Law, both deceased. He also had a sister, Celesta Jo Fuss and a brother, Rollin Paul (Ron) Fuss.

Donn attended Medford High School in Oklahoma. He was a talented athlete who participated

in all sports the school offered including football, basketball, baseball, track (where he medaled

in low hurdles) and especially swimming. He also sang in the men’s quartet and his church

choir. He was president of his senior class and marching band. After graduating in 1950, he

attended Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University) for one semester. Rather than being

drafted into the army due to the Korean Conflict, he enlisted in the US Navy on April 30, 1951,

where he remained for 25 years.

After serving duty on 4 ships, USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88), USNS General Gordon (AP-117),

USNS General Aultman (AP-156), and the USS Neches (AO-47), he served 3 tours in

Washington, DC, 1 in Norfolk, VA and overseas in Morocco at the Navy’s Fleet Intelligence

Center. His very first sea voyage was nearly his last when the carrier encountered a typhoon!

His military service carried him to many ports of call in the Pacific, including Hawaii, Guam,

Japan, Philippines and the off-loading of troops in Korea. His favorite duty station was Fleet

Intelligence Center, Morocco, where he received his commission and worked with some of the

highest classified material of the US Government. He was a top secret courier to the US

Embassy in Rabat and back in D.C. a personnel officer for Admiral John McCain (Senator

McCain’s father). He was responsible that all ships being sent quickly to the Cuban Missile

Crisis theatre were manned with all required personnel. He received the Navy Commendation

Medal from the Secretary of the Navy for his work in directing the paper to punch card system

for the Navy’s personnel security records. After retiring from the Navy on February 2, 1976, he

worked in commercial sales and fully retired in 1998.

He met his future wife, Joyce Marie Kenny, in the 5th grade when her family moved to Medford.

He never dated another girl in High School. They were wed on his birthday, February 16, 1953.

While Donn was stationed in Morocco, he took 30 days leave so he and Joyce could tour all

the western European countries. They were married for 57 years before her death in 2010.

Donn was an all-around, do-it-yourself person who enjoyed the outdoors, working on cars,

doing woodwork, plumbing and electrical repairs. He enjoyed classical, slow jazz and

western music. He also enjoyed watching football and old western movies.

He is survived by nieces Robin Bailey Simmons of Ponca City, OK and Charla Jo Harris of

Medford, OK. He has many nieces, nephews and in-laws from his wife’s family.

Special recognition and gratitude goes to Carla Tate and her husband Ray for all the years of

care, support, and love that they provided to Donn.