Dr. Devaki Navartna Ganesan

Dr. Devaki Navartna Ganesan was born February 1, 1940 in Mysore, Karnataka, India the daughter of Navartna Rao and Nandi Devi. She passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2020, in Oklahoma City at the age of 80 years. Dr. Ganesan was raised in her native India where she earned a Ph.D. and her Medical Degree from Mysore Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi University Health Science, Mysore, Karnataka, India. She was a board certified physician in the field of Internal Medicine, Nuclear Medicine and Occupational Medicine. She and her husband, Dr. Guruswami Ganesan were one of the first Indian families to settle in Oklahoma City and as founders and originators in building the Indian Asian community in Oklahoma, they were an integral force in creating the phenomenal community we have today. A pillar in the medical and Indian community in Oklahoma City for over 50 years, Dr. Devaki Ganesan’s loss is profound not only to her family but to her beloved community of friends, family and colleagues in the medical, Asian Indian and Oklahoma community. Whether as Medical Director of the General Motors Plant in OKC for 23 years to her advocacy and volunteerism, there are no words to adequately describe the sheer force of intelligence, leadership and compassion that Dr. Ganesan exemplified. Her knowledge of Sanskrit and Vedic studies, her passion for Indian Classical music, her undying and unwavering support and love and generosity for her community made her a shining beacon of light that will be virtually impossible to replace. May God Bless her most beautiful and special soul. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Guruswami Ganesan; her daughter, Mena Ganesan of Oklahoma City; her son, Arvind Ganesan of Washington, D.C.; her grandson, Alexis Ganesan; her sister, Rajeshwari Rao of Australia. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 6th, in the Vondel Smith Mortuary North Chapel, 13125 N. MacArthur Blvd. with cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Indian Cultural Foundation of Oklahoma (ICF), 7200 North Coltrane Road, OKC, OK 73121