A private family graveside memorial service will be held at a later date for Jack Beller, 92, of Norman, formerly of Ada. Rev. Earl Hood will officiate. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. Beller died Wednesday, May 27, 2015 in Norman. He was born October 1, 1922 in Ada to Garrett W. and Mary Frances Hall Beller. He was raised in the Ada area and graduated from Latta High School.
He married Juanita V. Murphy August 2, 1952 in Reno, Nevada. She preceded him in death February 4, 2014. They were married for over 71 years. Mr. Beller joined the U. S. Army after the outbreak of World War II. He was a member of the Army Military Police and served as a guard on a US prisoner-of-war ship which made three round trips transporting German prisoners from North Africa to New York City over the 3 ½ years of his military service.
After the end of WWII, Jack and Juanita returned to Ada for a few years until moving to Midwest City in 1951. They had two sons whom both graduated from college and Medical School and became Orthopaedic Surgeon’s in the greater Oklahoma City area.
Mr. Beller went to work as a civil servant statistical analyst at Tinker Air Force Base until his retirement after 27 years of service in 1978. He and his wife moved back to Ada and built their retirement home within sight of the small, rural grocery store formerly owned by his father where Jack worked while he was in high school. He became a gentleman farmer raising cattle and vegetables for the next 30 years.
Mr. Beller was a life-member of the Ada Masonic Lodge. He and his wife attended Center Free Will Baptist Church for 35 years and were strong supporters of the youth group there.
Survivors include his two sons, Jack Beller and wife Ruth, Norman and Rick Beller and wife Lynne of Edmond; five grandchildren, Jenna Donatiello and husband Aron, Austin, TX; Julie Vandaveer and husband Ben, Philadelphia, PA; Kendall Porter and husband Blake, Kansas City, KS; Karis Monger and husband Matt, Tulsa; and Braden Beller, Tulsa; seven great-grandchildren; plus one on the way; and a brother, Garret Beller, Alameda, CA.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Center Free Will Baptist Church Youth Group, c/o Center Free Will Baptist Church, 12975 CR 3480, Ada, OK 74820.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
