Class of 1949
1949 Maroon Spotlight
Donald Severe
Wrestling ’45-’46; Annual Follies ’45-’46; Basketball ’45-’49; Baseball ’46-’49; Football ’47-’48; Perryscope Staff ’48-’49; Student Council President ’48-’49; Teen Town Council ’48-’49; Student Council ’45-’49; Mayor for a Day ’48-’49; Boys’ State ’47-’48.
1949 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Donald Wayne Severe proved to be an ace for the Perry high school baseball team’s pitching staff, and also did outstanding work in basketball and football. He is the 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Severe, 1315 Elm street.
Don was born in Perry, but attended schools in Tulsa, Fairfield, Ill., Orlando, Louisville, Ill, and Port Allegany, Pa., in addition to PHS. He intends to enter either OU or Oklahoma A. & M. Don, a member of the Letterman’s club, has served this year as president of the student council. He was listed in “Who’s Who in American High Schools,” and served on the Perryscope newspaper staff. Baseball is his chief hobby, and physics is his favorite subject.
Donald Wayne Severe
November 26, 1930 – June 5, 2013
Donald Wayne Severe passed away peacefully on June 5, 2013, at the age of 82 years in Fort Worth, Texas. He was a resident of Granbury, Texas at the time of his death.
Donald was born November 26, 1930, in Perry, Oklahoma, to C. Otto Severe and Irma Bonita (Nida) Severe. Graduating from Perry High School in 1949, he married the former Virginia Lee Anderson of Ponca City, Oklahoma, on November 23, 1952. They were married over 60 years. He attended Oklahoma State University, where he obtained an Associate and Bachelor of Science degree in May, 1957. He attended Colorado School of Mines and was employed as a Petroleum Engineer for Cities Service Petroleum Company. He and his family lived in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, and Colombia, South America. He ended his career with Bank of America, Fort Worth, as a vice-president and trust officer in the oil and gas department.
He was a member of American Institution of Minerals and Petroleum Engineers. He served his country in the U.S. Army and was a member of the American Legion.
His favorite thing to do was work in his vegetable garden, and he loved sharing his tomatoes, etc. with family and friends. He enjoyed golf with Virginia, family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother LeRoy and son Jim Wesley.
Donald is survived by his wife, Virginia Severe of the home, son Donald Warren Severe and his wife, Beth, of Spring, Texas, son Kent Leroy Severe and his wife, Kathy, of Mansfield, Texas, sister Norma Vanbiber of Spring, Texas, brother John Severe of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Aunt Katherine Klinglesmith of Perry, Oklahoma, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many cousins and friends.