Truman Donald "Don" O'Connor, 98, of Winfield, died on March 20, 2019.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on April 20, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church in Winfield, with Rev. Angela Madden presiding. A dessert reception will follow the service.

Don was born in Stoy, Illinois, and raised in Centralia, Illinois, where he completed high school. He served in the Army in Europe at the close of WWII. He married Ruby Lorraine Cavel on Christmas Eve, 1939 in Centralia, where their daughter, Linda Kay and son, Jerry Neal were born.

Before his time in the military, he worked in the oil fields around Centralia. After returning from service, he began a long career with the CB&Q Railroad, living in Illinois, Minnesota, and Hannibal, Missouri.

In 1981, an opportunity to follow his gardening hobby took him away from the railroad to Ladue, Missouri, where he and Ruby lived as groundskeepers and security on an estate. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary while living in Ladue.

They fully retired and moved near Gilmer, Texas in 1991 for a longer blooming season and to be closer to Texas family. Always an outdoorsman, Don enjoyed fishing and trapping beaver in neighbors' ponds while living in eastern Texas.

His arrival was often preceded by the sound of him whistling or humming. He reveled in telling stories of his rich life, of family, raising orchids, European adventures during World War II, salvaging train wrecks, and life as groundskeeper on the estate. He was a gardener into his mid-90's and an avid reader until his final month of life.

Ruby's failing health, daughter Linda's move to Winfield, and an apartment at Cumbernauld, enticed them back north to Kansas in 2003. Ruby died in January 2005.

Always ready to start a new chapter in life, at 85 and 81, Don and Ruth Seley married in November 2005. After 13 and a half years together, she survives him. As a couple they enlivened each other and those around them. Don is also survived by his children, Linda Hahn of Winfield; Jerry O'Connor, and stepdaughter Margarita Seley of Pittsburg, CA; three grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any memorials be made to one of Don's favorite charities: Cumbernauld Employee Assistance Fund, First Presbyterian Church of Winfield, Salvation Army, or the Winfield Food Pantry.