Don Stone Bobzien

Don Stone Bobzien was born October 20, 1933 to Clifford and Florence Bailey Bobzien. He attended Gatewood, Taft and Classen High School where he played baseball for Classen and in commercial leagues. In 1942 he was an original member of the first Oklahoma City Boy's Chorus entertaining the World War 2 troops. He went on to serve in the US Army between 1953 and 1955. While attending The University of Oklahoma, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and eventually graduated on the Dean's Honor Roll in 1957. We believe these were the formative years for what we all came to know as Don's notorious sense of humor and love of practical jokes. Don married Sandra Ann Kessler in 1954 and was blessed with 57 years of her love and tolerance before Sandra's passing in 2011. With a loan from his generous Father-in-Law, Edwin L. Kessler, Don opened his first Men's Clothing Store: Bobzien's Dad's and Lad's in Casady Square 1959. He went on to start Bobzien's Traditional Shop and finally Bobzien's Clothing District, OKC's first quality, off-price, high volume, low overhead men's clothing operation concept store. When he opened the Clothing District in 1972, he took the risk of offering no personal charge accounts and went with a new approach called 'Credit Cards'? It worked! Don closed out his last clothing store in 1997. Don served as VP of Union Bank and was involved in PR and Community activities, eventually retiring from Union Bank in 2008. Don was also a trained volunteer Mediator in the OKC Municipal court system. Over the years he served on numerous Community boards, including Commerce Bank, Founders Bank, and Free to Live Animal Welfare where he served several years as Chairman. Don created and Chaired Partners for Animal Welfare (PAW OK) that built and managed OKC's nationally acclaimed Paw Park. For this he received OKC Beautiful's Visionary Award. He was an original Board Member of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society going on to serve as Board member emeritus. In 2008, the Oklahoma State Tourism & Recreation Commission made an official resolution honoring Don for building the State's first dog park and leading the expansion effort statewide. Through the efforts of his good friend, former Governor George Nigh, each of the visitor centers on the four entries into the State, there is located a DON BOBZIEN dog park with commemorative plaque, in honor of his service. Don also served on the OKC Theater Center board. A 35-year board member of OKC's Crime Stopper program, four years serving as Chairman and eventually serving as Chairman Emeritus. Don served as Chairman of TEEM (The Education & Employment Ministry). After retiring from TEEM, Don returned years later not as board member (he insisted) but as a one-to-one mentor to former convicts hoping to redirect their lives. As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, he served on the Session and was one of three members creating their Stephen Ministry program. He and Sandra were Charter members & helped build Covenant Presbyterian Church in The Village in 1956. Don later rejoined Covenant after Sandra's passing. Don was an original member and self-proclaimed 'The Legend' of Oklahoma's oldest Fantasy Football League. He was a long-time member of Quail Creek CC where he enjoyed tennis, (three times club singles champion as well as husband/wife doubles and Men's doubles also) and golfer (with a hole-in-one on #2!). He also posted an even par round at Hefner South.Don & Sandra were blessed with three children: Bradford & wife Dyan, Bruce, Suzy Estill & husband Brent. Don delighted in coaching all his children in their early ages. He also has four perfect granddaughters: Kara, Kaylen, Bailey and Sophie.After Sandra's death, Don was blessed with a supportive relationship with Gracie Moyers. All of Don's children agree that Gracie was truly a gift from heaven (and in another life a master chef).From his early childhood Don had a special love and passion for animals and enjoyed his association with his many animal welfare organizations. Once proclaimed OKC's 'Dog Guy' and 'Dog's Best Friend', Don wanted to make sure his chocolate rescue lab 'Kate' (who saw him through an earlier hospice recovery by forcing him to take daily walks along the Quail Creek Golf Course) received an honorable mention. Kate received the OK Humane 2015 Hero Award for her efforts.The Bobzien Family will be hosting a celebration of Don's life at a future time when it's safer to assemble as a group. Please reach out to Brad Bobzien to be added to the list of attendees for that event: bbobzien@verizon.net.We also would like to ask that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following charities that were near and dear to Don's heart, both of which need our financial support:Paw Park OKC: https://pawok.com/OK Humane Society: https://okhumane.org