LaDonna Ruth Welborn

LaDonna Ruth (Shaw) Welborn, a long-time resident of Meeker, Oklahoma, was born on January 21, 1935, in Meeker. She departed this life on January 10, 2025, at her home in Meeker, at the age of 89 years. LaDonna was the daughter of Robert and Loata Shaw. She grew up in the Meeker area and was a graduate of Meeker High School. LaDonna married the love of her life, Bill Welborn, on June 10, 1951.

After graduation, LaDonna went to work at the Sylvania plant in Shawnee. After working there for a few years, she went to work as the office manager of their propane company in Shawnee. After they sold their propane business, she went to work in Meeker at Lewis Manufacturing for a few years. In 1999, she and her husband, Bill, opened the restaurant, LaDonna’s Grill in Meeker. She worked there until her retirement.

LaDonna was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church in Meeker. There she served on the Kitchen Committee for several years and cooked at children’s and youth camps. The highlight of LaDonna’s life was cooking for her family and friends. She loved making old-fashioned sugar cookies with her grandchildren and later with her great-grandchildren. She didn’t mind the flour all over the kitchen floor or the sprinkles as they decorated them. She loved every minute of that time together.

Whether it was a Saturday morning breakfast of biscuits and gravy with tasty jellies; or a Sunday meal after church of roast beef with brown gravy (homemade-not the package stuff) or chicken and noodles with hot rolls and cinnamon rolls for dessert, it was a MEMORABLE time with her family. LOVE was always the main ingredient in all her cooking. If it was mealtime and you were at the Welborn home, you were ALWAYS welcome to share a meal with them.

Bill and LaDonna raised two children, Debbie and Billy, both from Meeker.

LaDonna was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Loata Shaw, two brothers, Ronelle Shaw and Franklin (Bud) Shaw and her loving husband of 73 years, Bill Welborn.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Debbie Lowe and her husband, Danny and Billy Welborn and his wife, Shallon; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandson. Derek Lowe and his wife, Kristal and their children, Nick and Raelynn; Zach Lowe and his wife, Hailie and their son, Axel; DeLayna Pearcy and her husband, Brent and their children, Breanna and Bryce; David Lowe and his wife, Jacqui and their daughter, Amaya; Kelli Simpson and her husband, Mark and their children, Cole and Haley; Kyle Welborn and his wife, Rebecca and their children, Ella and Reagan; one sister, Frankia Story of Edmond; two sisters-in-law, Linda Kincaid and Teresa Simpson; one brother-in-law, DeWayne Welborn and a host of many other relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the wonderful people at Heartland Hospice for their loving care and support.