HERROLD, Donald Erwin, age 78, formerly of Tulsa, passed away peacefully and into Heaven on Saturday, May 4, 2019. He was a graduate of Tulsa Central High School in 1958, received his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma in 1962, and received his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1966. Don served as Lieutenant Commander with the U.S. Naval Service between 1966 and 1970, when he was honorably discharged having been awarded the National Defense Medal, Defense of Vietnam Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, the Meritorious Unit Citation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon (USN), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea).
Don was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, the Tulsa County and Oklahoma Bar Associations, and a life-long member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa. He served at Asbury as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and as a member of both the Administrative Board and Finance Committee, he taught the Chapel class, the Mariners class, and the Wordfinders class, he led a prayer group on Wednesday nights for over 10 years and was a frequent speaker at men's prayer breakfasts. He practiced law for over 50 years, beginning as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma, then in his private practice law firm where he serviced clients for over 35 years. In 2016, Don received a half-century recognition from the Tulsa County Bar Association.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Reu Golden and Bonnie LaFern Herrold. He is survived by his brother and sisters, Jack Neal Herrold, wife Cathy of Tulsa and daughters Shannon Faulkner, and husband Jeremy, and Tasha Todd, Tina LaReu Gilliland, husband Steve of Tulsa and children Reed and Katie Gilliland, and Tamara Rene Holt, husband Chris and of Tulsa and children Brittany Howard and Jonathan Holt; his high school sweetheart and wife of more than 57 years, Mary Louise Essman; sons, David Henry Herrold and wife Amy of Tulsa, Daniel Essman Herrold of Tulsa, and Matthew Louis Herrold and wife Jenni of Katy, Texas; and eight grandchildren: Hannah Elizabeth, Samuel Wolverton, Benjamin Rutledge, Abigail Ann, Ellie Grace, Johnathan Marshall, Graham Parker, and Carter Bradley; and his brother-in-law, James Henry Essman and Sandy Pierson of Midland, Texas and children Linda Brandt and husband Tom, Lisa Hardaway and husband John, Jim Essman and wife Harriett, and Angela Spencer and husband Greg.
Services will be held May 9, 2019, 2:00 p.m., at Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa, with family graveside services, 1:00 p.m., at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 8, 2019, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home, 9350 East 51st Street, Tulsa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations, in Don's memory, be made to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.