Donna Glover

Donna Jo Glover passed away Wednesday May 22, 2024 at her home in Sedan, Kansas. 

Donna was born June 4, 1939 in Pryor, Oklahoma to Jesse “Neal” and Betty Jo (Rush) Ditmore. She attended and graduated from Ponca High School in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Even in high school she knew she wanted to be a nurse and joined the Future Nurses organization and became a Candy Striper. 

On January 10, 1958, Donna married her next door neighbor, DeWayne Glover. She then became a full time nurse’s aide. DeWayne joined the U. S. Air Force so they could see the world. They were eager to hear about their first overseas assignment; then it arrived; Bartlesville, Oklahoma with the Air Traffic Control Division. Their next assignment was Topeka, Kansas, a little further out, but not the world. Several years later, DeWayne was finally sent to Germany. Donna was given permission by the Air Force to join DeWayne. However, Cary was 4 and Cathy 2 and Donna was six months pregnant with Clayalee. The Air Force would not let her fly at seven months pregnant so she knew she had to hurry to be near DeWayne. The Cuban missile crisis escalated and all discharges were canceled for the duration of the conflict. Nothing was going to stop Donna! She grabbed her children, boarded a plane in Tulsa, and headed to Germany; arriving with only one dollar left.

The family spent three years in Germany living in Berlin while the Berlin Wall was being built. As the years passed she and DeWayne did get to see the world. Later when stationed in Wichita and living in Belle Plaine, Donna worked at Wesley Medical Center. At this time, they found and bought land by the Quivira Scout Ranch north of Sedan, Kansas and started building a home there. Donna went back to school and graduated with her BSN at Pittsburg State. She worked as an RN at the Sedan City Hospital for years. Later she would join the surgery team at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center as a surgery nurse and worked there until retirement in 2005.

 In 2018, DeWayne and Donna moved into Sedan next door to their son Cary. Donna loved being next door to her musical family. The last few years she was accompanied by her granddaughter Annie who helped care for her and never left her side. They made quite the pair, even making TikTok videos together. The family took her everywhere from boating, picnics, 4 wheeling, go karts, a ride on a Ferris Wheel, concerts as well as 143 music jams and performances. She had her favorite songs, and when she heard them, she would smile, jump up, and dance. 

Donna was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sedan where DeWayne was a song leader, guitarist, and deacon since 1979. Whenever anyone came to visit during the time of the county fair, Donna would make sure you were taken to the First Baptist pavilion and fed juicy hamburgers and homemade pies. For several years, DeWayne would help lead the 5th Sunday Sings with the Ministerial Alliance of Sedan. It was at these “sings” that he and Donna would encourage the family and grandchildren to join in. 

Donna enjoyed cacti and had a small collection with some growing over 6 feet tall. Donna completed her “bucket list” which included visiting all 63 National Parks in the United States, which included a mule ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, traveling the world to Rome, Russia, London, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and 8 different cruises. One experience that was a highlight in her life was attending the live Elvis concert in Wichita in 1976.

Donna is preceded in death by her brother Ronnie Ditmore and her husband DeWayne Glover. She is survived by her son Cary and TaeRee Glover of Sedan, Kansas; daughter Clayalee Glover of Wichita; daughter Cathy Jo Glover of Topeka; Jacob and Melissa Glover of Independence, Kansas; her siblings Charlot and John Hayes of Louisiana, Johnny and Kelly Ditmore of Texas; Lisa and Red Titus of Texas; 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A special thank you to Gentiva Hospice for making Donna’s last 19 months of life enjoyable and memorable. She so enjoyed the hospice home visits, and would laugh and dance with their nursing staff.