Donovan Rich

Donovan Eugene Rich
Friday, August 24, 2007

CASPER -- Funeral services for Donovan Eugene Rich, 76, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, at Winter Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for more than 40 years, with the Rev. George C. Hodges officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Aug. 23, 2007, at Newcomer Family Funeral Home.

He died after a brief illness on Aug. 13, 2007, at Wyoming Medical Center, one more before his 77th birthday.

He was born Sept. 13, 1929, in Nebal to Howard G. and Lora Rich, who homesteaded at Hiland until he was 7.

They moved to a farm outside of Riverton where he attended Morton school.

In 1945, the family moved to Casper, where he graduated from Natrona County High School in 1946. He also attended the University of Wyoming.

He worked for the city of Casper until he was drafted and served in the Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.

He was employed by The Great Lakes Carbon Co. as a furnace operator until 1960, when an auto accident left him a paraplegic.

He carried on life as usual though with hobbies playing the violin and piano and singing.

He was a member of the Casper Chorus and the Winter Memorial Church Choir. He also sang at many weddings, funerals and other functions.

He lived a full and active life in spite of his condition. He was a very giving and dependable person. He was loved by all and will be missed very much.

Survivors include four sisters, Vernelle Coats of Lewistown, Mont., LaVaughn Harvey of Torrington, Geraldine Slensker and Marilynn Bramson, both of Casper; two younger brothers, Roland Rich of Anchor Point, Alaska and Gary Rich of Pahrump, Nev., and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his oldest brother, Daryl Rich, killed in World War II and a younger sister, Delores Ross.