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© Enid News and Eagle Enid, Oklahoma April 15, 2018 May 22, 1916 ~ April 12, 2018 A Celebration of Life for Thelma M. Harper, age 101, of Enid, is 2 pm, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Don Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. Thelma was born the eldest of four children on May 22, 1916, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Fern and Maye [Reed] Newkirk, and passed away Thursday, April 12, 2018 in Enid. She attended Adams, Garfield and Lincoln grade schools and graduated from Enid High School in 1934. She and John Rex Harper were married June 16, 1940 in Dodge City, Kansas. Rex passed away in December, 1990. Thelma and Rex enjoyed traveling and spending winters in south Texas and summers in Colorado, making friends and collecting antiques. Thelma also enjoyed crafts, reading and playing cards with the girls. Thelma was a long time member of Central Christian Church. She volunteered at St Marys Regional Medical Center for 19 years and is a 35 year member of the Oil Chemical Atomic Workers Auxiliary. Thelma is preceded in death by her parents; her husband John Rex Harper; daughter, Rex Ann Yoachum; grandson, Gerald Rex Yoachum; two sisters, Rosalee Moore and Dorothy Horton; and brother, Marvin Newkirk. She is survived by her grandson, Rusty Yoachum, of Waukomis. Memorials in Thelmas name may be made to Central Christian Church with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds. Condolences may be made at www.ladusauevans.com |
Enid, Oklahoma July 1982 February 2, 1922 ~ July 12, 1982 Information provided by: Rebecca MEMORIAL ARTICLE Published Assembly May '90 Gilbert Stewart Harper, Jr No. 15342 Class of 1946 Died 12 July 1982 in Enid, Oklahoma, aged 60 years Interment: Enid, Oklahoma Gilbert Stewart Harper, Jr, affectionately known by family and friends as "Stew," was born on 7 February 1922 in Reform, Alabama. His hometown was small, but his aspirations were great, spawned from a rich and proud family heritage and fueled by hard work in search of excellence in sports, academics and music. Twice a week his mother would drive him 60 miles to Birmingham for violin lessons. After graduating from high school in Reform, Alabama, Stew attended Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama, for one year. He then attended Birmingham-Southern College, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. During this period he was a student at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music and was a member of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. His hard work earned him a full scholarship to the famed Juilliard School of Music, but instead he elected to enter West Point in 1943. When asked why he chose a military career rather than music, Stew would joke that he finally found out how little money violinists made. Stew is remembered by his classmates as one of the "spooniest" cadets in the Corps. He was the epitome of' the true southern gentleman. An academic star man, he was also a cheerleader and director of the Cadet Glee Club. In addition to being involved in many other clubs and activities, he was able to continue with the violin in the Cadet Orchestra. One of his roommates recalls that his practice sessions with the violin were never much appreciated. Stew received his wings during June Week and was commissioned into the Army Air Corps. His transition training into multi-engine aircraft was at Vance Field, Enid, Oklahoma. It was there that he met and married Beverly Joan Young. After initial assignments in the United States, Stew commanded a B-29 squadron in the 307th Bomber Wing during the Korean War. After Korea, he served in the Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska. He played a key role in the automation of SAC command and control and in the development of SAC strategy in the nuclear era. His last active duty assignment was SAC liaison officer to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts. Stew left active duty after 14 years to join International Telephone and Telegraph in New Jersey. He remained in the Air Force Reserve serving with the Air Force Systems Command and finally as the mobilization designee to the Twenty-third Air Force, retiring as a brigadier general in1981. He was a graduate of both the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Air War College. His military awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Soldier's Medal, the Air Medal and three Air Force Commendation Medals. In 1964, Stew transferred from IT&T to Sperry Rand on Long Island, New York, where he worked on guidance systems for the Polaris program. In 1967 he joined Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), opening their New York City office. He later moved to Huntsville, Alabama, as CSC's director of southeast operations. He and Joan lived in Saigon, South Vietnam from 1971-74 where he worked for CSC as the director of operations for the development of management information systems for selected government of South Vietnam organizations. Stew resigned from CSC in 1975 to become the manager of the water services and development division of Koering Company in Galveston, Texas. When faced with the dilemma of a promotion in Koering at the expense of his Air Force Reserve affiliation, he chose to move to Enid, Oklahoma, to manage his personal investments and continued to serve with the Air Force until his retirement in 1981. He died of a heart attack on 12 July 1982. He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Nancy, son Gilbert [USMA 1970] and six grandchildren. At the time of my father's death, I offered to write this memorial. I found the challenge overwhelming for I could not adequately communicate the love and respect shared by his family and friends. Time has not healed the loss, but it made me realize that any effort will be insufficient and those close to him will understand. He was a perfectionist yet a loving and caring man with a great sense of humor. He instilled in his children a sincere love of God and a true under-standing of duty, honor, and country. These values are lived daily by his wife, children and grandchildren, and will be passed on to generations to come. His son, Gilbert S. Harper, LTC, US Army |
© Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Enid, Oklahoma My 2020 July 22, 1924 ~ May 9, 2020 The Private Family Graveside service celebrating and honoring the life of Joan "Joanie" Young Harper, 95, of Denver Colorado formerly of Enid will be held in the Memorial Park Cemetery with Dr Reverend Andrew Long officiating. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Joanie was a true daughter of the First Families of the Twin Territories; her maternal grandfather was the first doctor in Indian Territory and her paternal grandfather made the Land Run of 1893, whose first home was a sod dugout. She was born on July 22, 1924 to Beverly and Chester Young and passed from this life on May 9, 2020, in Denver, Colorado. The family lived in Carmen and Fairview, OK, where Chester owned hardware stores and farms, before moving to Enid in 1934. During his successful career Chester was President of the North American Retail Hardware Association. Joanie attended Enid schools and studied drama during the summers at Northwestern University. She attended OU and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. But her first love was acting so she moved to New York City and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduation she worked with the American Academy Stock Company and had roles in early television commercials. She also was a resident actress with the Cleveland and Albuquerque Playhouses. On November 2, 1946 Joanie, who had returned to Enid, married Gilbert Stewart "Stew" Harper, a West Point graduate who was stationed at Vance Air Force Base for pilot training. They lived a military life with frequent family moves and deployments. Stew left active duty to pursue a successful career in industry but stayed in the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a Brigadier General. His civilian career took the couple to Vietnam, returning shortly before the fall of Saigon. On Stew’s final retirement he and Joanie moved back to Enid where they bought the Young Family home. Joanie’s greatest pleasure was to live in the home where she grew up. In 2016 she moved to Denver, CO to be near family. She was business manager and personal investor for Young Valley Farms and was in partnership with her brother, Bob. In Enid Joanie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and was active in the Presbyterian Women’s Association; in 2011 she was named Presbyterian Woman of the Year. She was a dedicated 68-year member of P.E.O. Chapter AQ/OK and organized a chapter while living in Lexington, MA; she often joked P.E.O. stood for "Petticoats Enter Only." She also organized the Needlepoint Guild at Saint Matthews Episcopal Church. Joanie served as President of the Enid Delta Delta Delta Alumnae Chapter and hosted the Tri Delta pansy sale eighteen consecutive years at her home. She was a member of Garfield Republican Women; Oakwood Country Club, where her parents were charter members; and Sons and Daughters of the Cherokee Strip. She served on the boards of the YWCA and Enid Symphony. Joanie was preceded in death by her husband, Stew, in 1980 and her brother, Robert John "Bob" Young, of Deland, FL in 2009. She is survived by her son, Brigadier General Gil Harper and his wife, Kris, of Mt. Pleasant, SC and her daughter, Nancy and her husband, Curt Hockemeier, of Denver, CO. She has six grandchildren: Jonathan Harper and his partner, Gordon Phelps, of Falls Church, VA; Betsy Harper of Denver, CO; Matthew Harper of Alexandria, VA; Taylor Hockemeier and his wife, Holly, of Denver, CO; Greer Hockemeier, of Bethlehem, PA; and Sloane Hockemeier of Denver, CO. She also has two great-grandchildren, Haylen and Abby Hockemeier of Denver, CO. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Enid at a future date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Enid, Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, P.E.O. Chapter AQ/OK or Friends of Fisher House Charleston in care of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Condolences to the family may be made online at WWW.Brown-Cummings.com |
© Enid News and Eagle Enid, Oklahoma December 26, 2015 July 3, 1929 ~ December 20, 2015 A Service of Remembrance and Celebration of Life for Robert Lee Harper, 86, of Enid, will be 11 am Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church with the Rev Dr John Toles as celebrant. Cremation will be under the direction of the Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. Bob was born June 3, 1929, in Enid, Okla., the son of I.M. "Bud" and Ruth A. Peery Harper, and passed away December 20, 2015. He attended OSU and Phillips University. Bob was united in marriage to Sue Jackson June 1, 1959, in Enid, Okla. He owned and operated B and E Pawn and Sporting Goods Store. Bob was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a Shriner. Survivors include his wife, Sue, a daughter, Holly Harper Miller and her husband Bryce of Edmond, Okla. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Daily Bread or the Donor's choice with Ladusau-Evans as custodian of the funds. Submitted by Family |
© Enid News and Eagle Enid, Oklahoma December 5, 2023 February 7, 1932 ~ November 16, 2023 Sue F. [Jackson] Harper, born February 7, 1932, died November 16, 2023, in Edmond, OK. She grew up in Collinsville, OK, to parents Charlie and Opal Jackson with her nine brothers and sisters. She married Robert Harper, June 1, 1959, in Enid, OK, and then moved to Silver City, New Mexico, where they adopted their only child, Holly, out of foster care in 1963. Surviving are her brother, Jerry Jackson and wife Sandra of Oolagah, OK, and sisters, Joyce Lamberts and her husband Gary and Helen McMillon of Oolagah, OK; and her daughter, Holly and her husband Bryce Miller, whom Sue often referred to as "my favorite son-in-law," of Oklahoma City, OK. Sue attended Northeastern University in Tahlequah, OK, and Southwestern University in Weatherford, OK, graduating with a degree in pharmacy in 1954. Sue was predeceased by husband, Robert, her parents, and also 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Sue and Robert attended Saint Matthews Episcopal Church in Enid. They were avid outdoorsmen, with Enid as their home-base, spending summers trout fishing in Crested Butte, Colorado, and their winters bass fishing on Roosevelt Lake, in Arizona, and Zapata Lake, in Texas/Mexico. While Sue was a very competent, practical, and responsible person, she was also a "sparkly eyed hoot", with a great sense of humor. Her childlike spontaneity combined perfectly with her more serious pragmatic side to create a one-of-a-kind dynamo. She had the ability to stare reality right in the face, discern what she could change and what she couldn't change, and adapt with a sense of surrender and peaceful acceptance. She was much loved and will be forever missed. Sue will be buried next to her husband and his parents at Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid, OK. The family will have a small private ceremony at a time and date to be determined. To view a special video rap from Holly and to share your memories, please search for Sue Harper at www.NeptuneSociety.com |
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