Donald Allen East

Donald Allen East was born in Tulsa to Del and Berniece East on June 10, 1935. Don entered into eternity with the Lord on November 30, 2024 at 89 years of age. Don went to Tulsa Central High School and graduated in 1953. He attended Tulsa University in the fall of 1953 and spring of 1954 and transferred to Oklahoma State University in 1955. Don graduated in May 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management. Don remained an active supporter of OSU having a OSU Alumni Association Life Membership. He enjoyed watching OSU football on TV and for many years was a season ticket holder. In high school he was part of the National Rifle Association Junior program obtaining the sharpshooter diploma. Don always worked first with a paper route along with odd jobs. During college, Don work as an oilfield roustabout, a local refinery, in a pipeline gang and in an used pipe yard. A man of different interests, in the summer of 1960, Don passed the instructor test and qualifications to teach Karate, Judo and Jujitsu. Don always had a love for motorcycles and cars. He won multiple awards for both show cars and quarter mile drag racing events. This love grew and throughout the years he owned multiple Mercedes-Benz cars and was very active in the local chapter. One saying he always said was live first, love hard and die young. In January 1958 he joined the Air Force and served six months of active duty with a rank of A1C through the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Tulsa Unit. He continued as a reservist and was ordered for extended active duty starting in October 1962. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve on August 5, 1963. After graduation from Oklahoma State University In May 1961, Don moved to Dallas, Texas and worked for The Ruberoid Co. as an assistant plant engineer. Other work experiences included North American Aviation, Inc., Space and Information Systems Division in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Downey, California and Booz Allen Hamilton consulting services in California. In August 1968, he was issued the State of California Professional Engineer certification for Industrial Engineering. His close friend Terry Davis from the OSU days called Don and asked him to move back to Tulsa, Don always loved Frank Loyd Wright and was very interested in his architectural style and design. Terry said he would teach Don "the home building business." Terry sold Don a residential lot and Don's first project was a duplex that was finished in 1971. Don lived on one side of the duplex and leased the other side while learning the "ropes." From that modest start, East Development Company grew throughout the next 30 years to become a premier custom home builder, land development for residential subdivisions as well as a builder of several commercial properties. In the mid-to late 1970's, Don and his long-time friend, Richard Blissit, started Blissit-East Incorporated and developed Eastland Acres located near the Eastland Mall. In addition to a smaller affordable home, large apartment and townhome complex. Don's last two projects included The Parke Assisted Living and a small, gated community located near East 101st Street and South Memorial Drive. Don along with longtime friends, Terry Davis and Ronnie St. Clair developed the assisted living center. This past year The Parke celebrated their 25th year anniversary. Don's two brothers remembers Don spending several days in the Houston area going to these senior living centers to gather ideas to take back to Tulsa to start this new venture. The boutique residential subdivision named "The Village" was developed during the late 1990's through the early 2000's, Don's concept with small yards with both single-story and two-story homes, primarily using the "County French" architectural theme. Don was married to Sharon Davis for three years during the early to mid-1960's. Don was married to Rebecca Mitchell for approximately 10 years, ending in divorce in the late 1990's. After retirement, Don rekindled a relationship with Barbara Shaw that began during the 1960's in California. For over fifteen years they went on multiple vacation trips throughout the United States as well as Europe. Don is preceded in death by both parents and his sister, Carolyn Sue East. Don is survived by two brothers, Dick and Bob, both living in Texas. To honor Don's wishes, his brothers ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to two well-known veteran charities, Folds of Honor Oklahoma or Tunnel to Towers Foundation. A celebration of life service will be held 1:30 pm Wednesday, December 18 at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel

Donald Allen East

June 10, 1935 - November 30, 2024