Erle Conrad Donaldson

Erle Conrad Donaldson passed away peacefully on the morning of May 12, 2025, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Erle was born December 30, 1926, in Tela, Honduras to Erle H. Donaldson and Dorothy Drew Flynn Donaldson.

He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1945-1948. Erle then attended The Citadel Military College in Charleston, SC, obtaining a BS in Organic Chemistry in 1953, then a MS in Organic Chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 1955.

Erle met the love of his life, Grace Louise Miller, when they both attended summer school at The Citadel. It was love at first sight for both of them. Erle went on to earn a BS in Chemical Engineering at Houston University in 1961; and earned a PhD in Petroleum and Chemical Engineering in 1975. He studied other subjects on his own quite extensively, notably microbiology.

Erle began his career in Houston, Texas, at the refinery of Eastern States Petroleum Corp. He had a laboratory where he also oversaw 5 routine analytic labs. Two years later, he was promoted to the research laboratory as Pilot Plant Chief Chemist. In 1961, Eastern States Petroleum was sold to Signal Gas and Oil. Erle was offered a job at Signal Oil in Los Angeles but turned it down because he and Grace were tired of big city life & didn't want to raise their children in Los Angeles. Instead, Erle accepted an offer from the US Bureau of Mines to work in a research center in the small city of Bartlesville, OK. He began his work there in a basement laboratory in December 1961, yet before the decade was out, he was the Assistant Director of the Research Center, having turned down an offer to be the Director because he wanted to stay active in his own laboratory research. Erle was then made head of all research taking place there. In 1983, the Research Center (which had been renamed and put under the new government Department of Energy), was sold to a private company. Erle then took a long standing offer to teach at Oklahoma University in Norman, OK, in the Department of Petroleum Engineering. This was something he had long wanted to do. He thoroughly enjoyed the ten years he spent as a professor at OU.

During his time in Bartlesville and Norman, Erle published many, many papers, was active in the Society of Petroleum Engineers and had a huge impact on petroleum research throughout the USA and internationally. He came to be referred to as the "Rock Legend" by colleagues and students. After retiring from Oklahoma University, Erle worked a Consultant for OU, and for many companies and universities around the world for more than three decades. Erle co-founded the Journal of Petroleum Science and Technology with his longtime friend, Dr. George Chilingar, a professor and scientist at the University of Southern California. He continued as chief senior editor of the Journal for its first 20 years of publication. Erle received many awards over his long career, notably being elected in 1993 to the International Hall of Fame for Science. He also wrote a number of books:

Petrophysics -Theory and Practice of Measuring Reservoir Rock and Fluid Transport Properties, Djebbar Tiab & Erle C. Donaldson

Wettability, Erle C. Donaldson & Waqi Alam

Enhanced Oil Recovery I and II, EC Donaldson, GV Chilingar, TF Yen

Subsidence Due to Fluid Withdrawal, EC Donaldson. GV Chilingar, TF Yen

Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, EC Donaldson, GV Chilingar, TF Yen

Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Recent Advances Edited by EC Donaldson

Erle lived a life of adventure from his youth in Nicaragua and Honduras to his exciting career, to raising five children with his beloved wife, Grace. He was an avid camping and canoeing enthusiast, taking his family and friends on weeklong canoe trips on the Current River and Jacks Fork in Missouri, as well as the Buffalo River in Arkansas, the Illinois River in Oklahoma, and other rivers as well. Erle and Grace, after their children were grown, became avid RV'ers, travelling all over the USA and into Canada in a series of RVs of ever-increasing size. Erle and Grace also travelled internationally, especially enjoying Italy.

Erle was preceded in death by his loving wife: Grace Miller Donaldson, his parents: Erle H. and Dorothy Drew Flynn Donaldson, his brother: George Ernest Donaldson, his sister: Lenora Donaldson Whitefield, and just recently by his beloved son: Frank Conrad Donaldson.

Erle is survived by his children: Vincent Erle Donaldson (Analiza), Julia Drew Donaldson, Carolyn L. Donaldson Morgan (Jon), Linda Marie Donaldson Clanton (Doug), and daughter-in-law: Elvia Garcia Donaldson. Erle is also survived by his grandchildren: Seth Henry Morgan (Claire), Lindsay Grace Morgan and partner, Dylan, and Melanie Joy Clanton Woods (Morris). He was also blessed by great grandchildren: Hazel and Ruth Morgan, and Myrah and Mina Woods. Plus many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews as well as many friends.

Erle was a prolific writer and storyteller, who told enough stories over the past nearly 100 years, he could have filled several volumes. He will be missed by all who knew him.

A Memorial Service celebrating Erle’s life will be held at East Cross Church, 820 S. Madison Blvd on Saturday, June 21, 2025, @ 2pm in Bartlesville, Oklahoma with Pastor Chad Perciful officiating. Prior to the service, at 1:00 PM, in the church lobby, the family invites friends and family to a gathering to visit and share stories. Family will also be available after the service. There will be appetizers and additional time to greet the family. All are welcome to come. Arrangements are under the direction of Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemoriesbartlesville.com.