Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

© Enid News and Eagle

Thelma Compton Gungoll, 104, a longtime resident of Enid, Okla., died Friday, July 16, 2010, at her home. Born on Nov. 19, 1905, in Beirne, Ark., to John M. and Mittie Culp Compton.

Thelma and her family moved to Broken Bow, Okla., where her parents purchased land in 1910. After graduation from Broken Bow High School, she came to Enid in 1924 to enroll in Phillips University, where she later earned a bachelor of arts degree. For five years, Thelma taught in the elementary grades in the Waukomis area, where she met her husband, Carl E. Gungoll. After they were married in 1929, at Central Christian Church of Enid, the Gungolls settled in Enid. Carl began his career as a pioneer in oil exploration, and Thelma began her lifelong involvement in her church and community.

A generous and committed advocate for children, Mrs. Gungoll was best known for her work with youth. In 1973, Thelma founded Youth and Family Services of North Central Oklahoma, where she served faithfully on the board for many years. When she was 100 years old, Thelma was present at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new shelter, named in her honor, thus fulfilling her vision to provide a safe place for children. Among her many honors, Mrs. Gungoll was named the 1987 YWCA Woman of the Year and the 2008 Enid Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center also dedicated the Phillips University gallery in her name. Thelma was devoted to her family and was an example of selflessness and courage to her daughters and grandchildren. She loved history and nature and often attributed her long life to drinking freshly-squeezed orange juice every day.

Preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Carl E. Gungoll, her parents and seven brothers and sisters. She is survived by her two daughters, Myra B. Ward and husband Lew Ward of Enid and Carole J. Drake of Oklahoma City; six grandchildren, Casidy Ward Hofacket of Carefree, Ariz., William C. Ward of Fort Collins, Colo., Ramsey W. Drake of Oklahoma City, Shelley Drake Hawks of Concord, Mass., Carl G. Drake of Atlanta, Ga., and Daniel P. Drake of Boulder, Colo.; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brother, Bryan Compton of Watonga, Okla.; and sisters, Sherrill Smith of El Reno, Okla., and Marie Dickson of Edmond, Okla.