Ronald Dale Danner

Ronald Dale Danner, age 94, of Grapevine, Texas, formerly of Harrah, Oklahoma, was born on May 31, 1920, in Astoria, Illinois. He was the son of Elzie & Bessie (Gardner) Danner. He left this life on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, in Grapevine, Texas. Ron proudly served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during WW II. He was stationed at Scott AFB for 3 years then sent by train to Tinker AFB. He was one of the first soldiers sent to the new base in 1942. Then to Ft. Dix, New Jersey where he boarded a boat to begin his journey overseas. He arrived in Moracco, on the northwestern corner of Africa. He went by steam locomotive across Nigeria to several port towns on the Mediterranean Sea and then on to the Island of Sardinia located between Italy and Spain. When he returned to the United States he was honorably discharged in Chicago. After leaving the military, he quickly returned to Oklahoma following his heart to the woman he would marry. Years before while stationed at Tinker he met Barbara Johnson, who worked at Tinker and he quickly found himself in love with her. Ron and Barbara wrote one another while he was overseas, and upon his return they were married. Together they had three daughters and both worked at Tinker for over 30 years. He retired from Tinker AFB where he was an aircraft mechanic. Ron and his family had a small farm south of Harrah where he enjoyed raising strawberries and peanuts. He remained on his farm for 63 years until it was destroyed by the May 2010 tornado. Ron was a member of the VFW, the American Legion and the First Baptist Church, Harrah, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Barbara, daughter, Gloria Verel, sister, Ann Basinger, brother, Harold Danner and grandson, Matthew Ertel. Survivors include 2 daughters, Joyce Yandle, Henryetta, OK, Margaret (Peggy) Anderson, Grapevine, TX; sister, Rosa Lee Burgard, Havana, IL; 6 grandchildren, Stephen Verel, Michael Verel, Christopher Yandle, Krystal Yandle, Nick Whitham & Stephanie Fox; 6 great-grandchildren, Abigail Verel, Hannah Verel, Eli Verel, Tatem Verel, Logan Verel, Tessa Whitham and many other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friday, October 31, 2014, at Smith-Parks Funeral Service, Harrah, OK. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the Asa Smith Memorial Chapel, Harrah, OK, with Rev. Bill Derrick officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.