Obituary of John Cobb Donovan

John Cobb Donovan, age 81, of Lewisville, Texas, passed away August 10, 2019.  He was born March 20, 1938 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to James Joseph McCloskey O’Donovan and Marguerite Maree Cobb. He was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Houston Texas for 34 years and enjoyed volunteering in the church’s Fall Bizarre. John immensely enjoyed his 34 year stay in Houston and made lasting friendships and connections in the Memorial/Stratford Area community. He graduated from Oklahoma State in 1964 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.  

John retired from Warren Petroleum/Gulf Oil after a successful career which took him to Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Angola. He enjoyed writing about his childhood in Eastern Oklahoma which involved zip lining, riding oil field pump jacks and “borrowing” dynamite from his dad’s work supply in the Glenpool oil fields. After working for Gulf Oil, he was involved in international consulting with a specialty in gas turbines. When his children and grandchildren began to travel internationally, they would tell their father/grandfather of their travels, and he often said, “I have been there, too”.  John wrestled for Oklahoma State during the 1950’s and was a avid Cowboy fan – “Go Pokes”. He served his country during the Air America campaign (pre-Vietnam). 

John is preceded in death by his parents, James and Maree (Cobb) Donovan of Sapulpa, OK.   He is survived by his children:  Jamie Horning (Jim), Melissa McMartin (Clayton), Patricia Hustava (Andrew), and Michael Donovan (JoAnne), his sister, Rebecca Cecil and his brother James Joseph Donovan II.  In addition, he was the proud Grandfather of 9 grandchildren: Matthew Horning, Madeline Horning, Bethany McMartin Rondeau, Cutler McMartin, Brett McMartin, Brendan Hustava, Ashlan Hustava, Sean Donovan and Avery Donovan.  He spent several weekends over the years watching his grandchildren involvement in soccer, basketball, football, lacrosse, baseball, wrestling, Boy Scout events and Irish dancing. 

The family of John Cobb Donovan wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses who assisted with his care, especially the entire staff of Cross Timbers Rehabilitation Center, Lewisville Estates, Yellow Rose Hospice and Evergreen Apartments in Lewisville, Texas.

Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church - 1897 W Main St, Lewisville, Texas.  There will be a viewing the night before from 6-8 PM at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home - 740 S Edmonds Ln, Lewisville, TX 75067.

Final resting place will be in Sapulpa, Oklahoma with Graveside services and military honors at Green Hills Cemetery on Saturday morning, August 17, 2019, with a “Celebration of Life” lunch afterwards in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.  Please contact Green Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery in Sapulpa, Oklahoma for the exact time of the Graveside services.

Active pallbearers are Brendan Hustava, Cutler McMartin, Matthew Horning, Andrew Hustava, Clayton McMartin and Jim Horning.  Honorary pallbearers are Sean Donovan, Avery Donovan, Brett McMartin, Bethany McMartin, Ashlan Hustava, Madeline Horning and Pat Dawson.