Dr. Donald C. Graves, 81, of Oklahoma City, OK, passed away on October 19, 2023 after a long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Don was born on January 4, 1942 to Claude and Erma Graves in Detroit Lakes, MN. After Don graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1960, he went on to study Pre-Med at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN.

After graduating with an undergraduate degree in Pre-Med, he continued his education receiving a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Microbiology from Michigan State University and a Post Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1962 Don met Cheryl at Detroit Lakes, MN and they were married in 1964. Don and Cheryl went on to have 2 children, Tim and Todd Graves.

Don ultimately took his education to the University of Oklahoma where he continued his research and taught medical and dental school students for over 30 years. In 2000, Don retired from the University of Oklahoma and started his second career working with Cheryl running the Prometric Testing Center in conjunction with Cheryl's business, Sylvan Learning Center. Don ran the center for 10 years until he decided it was time to retire for a second time.

After retirement, Don spent his time with his wife, Cheryl, and other family doing many things, along with one of his favorite activities - spending time with his grandson, Triston, watching him play baseball.

Don was an incredible athlete in high school and after. He loved sports and played many in high school and college, and played after college for many years until he physically could not. He passed this love of sports to his sons and grandson and they continue to follow his passion in their sports careers today.

Don loved his family and was known for his "workaholic" work habits which he instilled in his sons, grandson and all those he taught and mentored. He will be remembered for his outstanding research, by all the doctors and dentists who learned Microbiology through Dr. Graves, by all the sports teams he played with and coached, and the years he spent loving and caring for his close and extended family.

Don was predeceased by father, Claude Graves, mother, Erma Graves, and sisters, Donna Wolden, Charlotte Munson, and Eleanor Aus. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Cheryl; his two sons, Tim (Gerilynne) Graves of Edmond, OK, and Todd (Tracy) Graves of Edmond, OK; two grandchildren, Triston Graves and Tray Christien Gillmore and husband Kip; four great-grandchildren, Jace, Leighton, Rebel and Koe; and sister, Kathy Brolin.

Services will be held at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church on October 26 at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Society of Saint Vincent DePaul (https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give) or Pulmonary Fibrosis Now Foundation (https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/donate/), an organization Don felt strongly about as he fought a long battle with a lung disease and was a 9-year survivor after a lung transplant.

Dad: "When we see you in heaven, we'll meet you on the first tee."