Donald Rodman Fletcher

Donald Rodman Fletcher went to be with his Lord on July 27, 2011. Services will be at Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 10 AM with Bro. Richard Jones & Bro. Mark Fletcher officiating. There will be a private graveside service following at Sand Hill Cemetery in Upshur County. There will be an open visitation at Rader Funeral Home of Longview from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. the day preceding the funeral. Donald Rodman Fletcher was born May 30, 1923 to Herman Martin Fletcher & Vera Sandborn Fletcher in Ellisville, Indiana. Don moved to Texas in 1935 when his father was commissioned as the architect to design the permanent buildings at the Texas State Fair Grounds. He met the love of his life, Novella Turner, in 1936 when they were 13. They were married September 16, 1940 at Rockwall, Texas at the ripe old age of 17. Don enlisted as an airman in the Army Air Corp the Monday after Pearl Harbor was bombed in December 1941. He flew 56 missions as a turret gunner on a B25 bomber and was awarded 3 Air Medals & many battle ribbons. Don was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant on October 15, 1945. He became an excellent salesman and moved to Longview in the early 60's with Exline Lowden Stationers. He retired in the 80's from Stafford-Lowden Printers and moved to Rogers, Arkansas where he started his own printing company, Fletcher-Jackson Inc. He sold his business in 1999 and moved back to Longview in 2000. He went to work for the City of Longview at the Green Street Recreation Center in 2004 having to stop when he fell and broke his hip in 2009. Don fought a 10 year battle with kidney disease and was a longtime patient at Davita Dialysis Center on Fredonia St. For many years he drove himself to dialysis at 5 a.m. then went home for lunch and then to his job at Green Street. Don & Novella celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last September and have always been a wonderful example of love & faithfulness to all who knew them. Don was a loyal & strong Christian and a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church & the Ambassador Sunday School Class. Don taught Sunday School & served as a deacon through the years at churches in Texas & Arkansas. Don is survived by his wife , Novella Turner Fletcher of Longview; his son, Rev. Bobby Fletcher & wife Janice of Sherman; daughter, Donna Loyd & husband, Don of Sand Hill; 8 grandchildren; Chris Loyd & wife, Kindra of Sand Hill; Beth Loyd Musselman & husband, Gary of Adamstown, Pennysylania; Carrie Loyd Rauch & husband, Mark of Gladewater; Amy Fletcher Thornton & husband, Stacy of Sherman; William Lee Loyd of Sand Hill; Rev. Mark Fletcher & wife, Amy of Van Alstyne;; Kristen Fletcher Jackson & husband, Bryan of Van Alstyne & Lindsey Nicole Fletcher of Sherman & 31 great grandchildren. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Herman Fletcher & Vera Fletcher Thompson and his brother, James Gordon Fletcher. The family would like to express our love & appreciation to Dr. Shakamuri, Dr. McDonald & Dr. Reddy for their wonderful care through out these past 10 years. We would also like to thank the nurses and CNAs at Select Specialty Hospital for their loving care during these past weeks. Memorials may be made to : Calvary Baptist Church 4715 Tenneryville Rd. Longview, TX 75604 A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.

Donald Rodman Fletcher

May 30, 1923 - July 27, 2011