Henry Lee Earp, 88, of Perkins, died on Friday, July 3, 2009, in Stillwater.

He was born on March 1, 1921 in Kendrick, to William Vernon Earp and Elsie Mae Kennedy Earp.

Raised on farms near Chandler, he developed a lifelong love of horses and an appreciation for hard work.

He married Wanda Maud Merrill on October 22, 1943, in Agra.

After high school, he worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas building B-17 bombers and gliders. He joined the Army in December of 1942, where he served in the Army Air Force, repairing gliders. He served with the 16th Troop Carrier Squadron, 64th Troop Carrier Group in the European Theater, based in Sicily. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945 at the rank of sergeant.

After the war, he became a skilled auto paint and body technician, working for Foresee Chevrolet in Chandler. He farmed southwest of Perkins for a few years, then he and Wanda built a home for their family south of Perkins in 1959. He started working in the oilfield, drilling wells all over the state. He worked for Gene Porter Drilling Company as a toolpusher for 18 years, until he retired in 1986.

He and Wanda lived south of Perkins for over 40 years, where he enjoyed raising and riding paint horses; for several years he was a member of the Perkins Roundup Club. He took great pride in keeping up his home, always working to improve the acreage and raising a big vegetable garden every year.

In retirement he took up golf, continued gardening and honed his woodworking skills. He produced countless Adirondack chairs, lamps, shadow boxes, and many other projects, including a stunning red cedar bedroom suite which he and Wanda utilized in their home. His patience, skill and pride of workmanship were evident in every piece he produced. He was the leader of his family in every sense, and loved nothing more than spending time with them at every opportunity.

He was passionate about his church life, and served as an ordained deacon of the First Baptist Church and later at Immanuel Baptist Church. He was a founding member and spent many hours assisting in the construction of Immanuel Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wanda; one brother, William Lloyd Earp; and one granddaughter, Christie Lynn Brooks.

He is survived by three daughters, Linda James and her husband, Darwin of Tulsa, Sherrill Poston and her husband, Jerry of Edmond and Denise Halliburton and her husband, Richard, of Hermosa Beach, California, one son, Wyatt Earp of Los Angeles, California, four grandchildren, Jeff Nuss of Oklahoma City, Marleah Nuss of Edmond, Daniel Nuss and wife Lauren of Enid and Rob Brooks of Tulsa; and three great grandchildren, Gabriel Nuss, Lily Walker and Haylee Nuss.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at Immanuel Baptist Church in Perkins with the Rev. Larry Wilson officiating.

Dr. Bruce Ewing will assist with the services.

Graveside services will be held at noon on Wednesday in Oak Park Cemetery, Chandler.

Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.

A memorial fund has been established by the Immanuel Baptist Church of Perkins, www.immanuel baptistperkins.org.