Donald Ray Vail, of Sapulpa, passed from this life March 10, 2019 at the age of 88. Don was the son of Luther and Lela Mae Vail. He was born January 10, 1931 in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He graduated from Sapulpa High School. Following school, Don worked as a milkman for Meadow Gold Dairy. He joined the United States Navy in 1952 and was stationed in Hawaii. He served for one year and was honorably discharged after the death of his father to become head of the household.
While working as an insurance agent at Prudential Life Insurance, Don met his future wife, Kay Reed and they were married on February 10, 1956. They recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
Don also worked for Patty Precision Products in Kellyville, OK and Riley Southwest in Sapulpa, OK. He ended his working career as a microscopist with Asbestos Analytics Inc. for over 20 years. Don was a member of First Christian Church and at one time served as a deacon and president of the Builders Sunday School Class. He also was a member of the Sapulpa Lions Club.
Don was an avid golfer and spent many a day on the Sapulpa Golf Course and numerous golf courses in the area. He started his golf career after someone sold him a set of golf clubs for $5. He was a student of many subjects and was a constant reader. He would spend hours studying horse lineages and became a racehorse trainer and show horse presenter. He loved his family and always had a smile and a wink for them.
Don is survived by his wife Kay of Sapulpa OK, his daughters Donna Vail and Susan Green of Sapulpa, OK and Grandson, Alex Green of Austin, TX and Bailee Green of Nacogdoches, TX. Surviving siblings include Mary Anne Giles and husband Bill of Newcastle, OK; sister Maxine Vail of Tulsa, OK; sister Susan Morrisett of Tulsa, OK, brother Johnny Vail and wife Sue of Stroud, OK. He was preceded in death by his father Luther Vail and mother Lela Mae Vail, brothers Frankie Vail and Paul Vail and sisters Dortha Ihle and Barbara Ryan.
Don will be in state at Traditions Funeral Home, 35 S. Main, Kellyville, Oklahoma, 918-247-7373. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Services will be under the direction of Traditions Funeral and Cremation Services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sapulpa First Christian Church.
