Donald "Don" Lincoln Dean

Donald Lincoln Dean, 99, died surrounded by family on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Don was born March 3, 1926, to Cecil Kenneth Dean and Ethel Mae Parrott in Salina, KS.

Don enlisted in the Navy after graduation from Wichita East High School in 1944. While at East High he was part of the self-proclaimed “College Hill Gang” where he developed many lifelong friendships. He served in the Navy as a fire control operator 3rd class and was honorably discharged on June 8, 1946.

After returning to the states after his service, Don attended Wichita University where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and graduated with a BS in Business Administration in 1950. He married Patricia Ann Harrell on August 7, 1949 and they were married for 64 loving years.

Don worked in Pharmaceutical Sales for 28 years before he retired and took up Genealogy.

Don is survived by his three children, Cindy (Grady) Olson of Kansas City, MO, Peggy (Tony) Savaiano of Wichita, Ken (Vona) Dean of Wichita; grandchildren, Stacy (Kevin) Sampson of Boulder, CO, Corby (Stacie) Savaiano of Derby, Eric (Mackenzie) Savaiano of Lincoln, NE, Garrett (Kaiti) Dean of Vicksburg, MS, Evan (Stephanie) Dean of Wichita; great-grandchildren, Kaeden, Koen, Oliver, Remy, Clara, Cora, Millie, Evelyn, Charley.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, August 1, 2025, at Hillside Christian Church.

Memorials have been established with Hillside Christian Church, 8330 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67206; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.