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William Carl “Bill” Busch was born September 30, 1936, to Walter Christian and Hazel Louise (Durkee) Busch. He passed from this life, on January 25, 2025, at his home in Ketchum, OK. Bill was born and raised at Hale Station in Tulsa, OK. He was a graduate of Tulsa Central High School, class of 1954. While attending school at Central, Bill was a 2-year letterman in Wrestling.
On May 6, 1955, Bill married Sharon Maud Coffey. Bill and Sharon shared life together for 60 years, until her passing in 2016.
Bill became a Christian at the age of 11, while attending Hale Baptist Church. He remained an active Christian throughout his life, beginning by teaching a Junior Boys class while still in High School. Through the years Bill served as Deacon, volunteer Youth Director, and Youth Choir Leader in several different churches. Bill also served as a volunteer coach, starting the Wrestling program a Catoosa High School in 1969 and at Union High School the next year, both times at the request of Football coach T.A. Schell.
In 1971 Bill was called to full-time Christian ministry while leading a group of young people at Falls Creek Baptist Camp. He served as Youth, Music, and Education Minister at Olivet Baptist Church in Tulsa for 6 years, and in the same position at First Baptist Church, Nowata for 9 ½ years. In 1985 he was called to First Baptist Church, Ketchum, as Pastor. He served at Ketchum until his retirement. In retirement he served as Pastor at Kelso Faith Baptist Church for over 20 years. Bill served at different times as Sunday School Director and VBS Director for both the Rogers Baptist Association and Craig-Mayes Baptist Association. He led Sunday School conferences in Oklahoma, California, Utah, Nevada, Canada, and Spain. Bill also did mission construction work in Oklahoma, Missouri, Idaho, and Mexico.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; his parents, Walter and Hazel Busch; and his siblings Delora Smith, Walter Busch, and Charles Busch.
He is survived by his son William Carl Busch, Jr. and wife Jackie; his daughter Bonnie Suzanne Pruett and husband Roland; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a very dear friend, Barbara Chapman.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Barbara Chapman, Scott Pruett, Carl Goodloe, Amy Sells, and the wonderful staff of Compassus Hospice for their care for Bill during the latter stages of his life.
Family visitation will be held Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 6-8 PM in the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel.
Celebration of Life will be Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10:00 at the Trinity Baptist Church of Vinita.
Online condolences may be left at www.highsmithfh.com or on our funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are under the care of Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral & Cremation Services. “Vinita’s only locally owned and operated funeral home.”
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