January 22, 2011 by Tulsa World

A 16

Saturday, January 22, 2011

OUR LIVES

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Circle of Life

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Carolyn Wagner 1953-2010

Girl who saw injustice made justice her life’s work ••The•daughter•of• a•KKK•member• grew•up•to•fight•to• protect•her•gay•son.

Carolyn Wagner, a nationally known human rights activist and former vice president of the national Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays board, continued to pursue her advocacy interests after moving to Tulsa three years ago. A memorial service for Wagner, who died Tuesday, will be held Saturday at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in Tulsa. Courtesy

BY TIM STANLEY

World Staff Writer

One•hot•Arkansas•night•in• the• summer• of• 1965,• a• conscience-stricken• 12-year-old• girl• crept• back• to• the• field• where• just• minutes• before• a• handful• of• men• in• stark• white•hoods•had•gathered•to• deliver•a•message. They•were•gone,•but•their• victim•was•still•there. She•found•him•tied•to•the• railroad• tracks,• where• he• had• been• beaten.• He• was• still•conscious. Quietly• cutting• the• black• man’s• bonds,• she• gave• him• directions•to•the•nearest•city• and•sent•him•on•his•way. Many• years• afterward,• Carolyn• Wagner• would• describe• that• moment• as• the• first• of• two• key• turning• points•in•her•life. The• next• would• come• nearly• three• decades• later,• when•as•a•mother,•she•had•to• watch• her• teenage• son,• who• was•gay,•endure•bullying•and• assaults•at•school. Wagner• and• her• family• eventually• won• a• federal• Title• IX• lawsuit• against• the• Fayetteville,•Ark.,•school•district•that•her•son•attended,•in• a• case• that• went• all• the• way• to•the•U.S.•Supreme•Court. For•Wagner,•the•former•Ku• Klux• Klansman’s• daughter• who•had•gone•from•witnessing• one• kind• of• extremism• firsthand•to•another,•it•was•a• seminal•event.•Her•transformation• into• social• crusader• was•complete. A• nationally• known• gay• rights• advocate• and• former• vice•president•of•the•national• Parents,• Families• &• Friends• of• Lesbians• and• Gays• board,• Carolyn• Marie• Wagner• died• Tuesday•in•Tulsa•after•a•long• battle• with• cancer.• She• was• 57. A• memorial• service• will• be•held•at•2•p.m.•Saturday•at• the• Dennis• R.• Neill• Equality• Center•in•Tulsa.•Serenity•Funeral• Home• is• handling• the• arrangements. Wagner,•a•longtime•Arkansas• resident,• and• her• husband,•Bill•Wagner,•retired•to• Tulsa• three• years• ago,• and•

she• continued• her• advocacy• work• here• through• the• local• PFLAG• chapter• and• Oklahomans• for• Equality,• among• other•groups. Despite• her• worsening• health,• “Carolyn• was• involved• in• everything,”• said• Toby• Jenkins,• executive• director• of• Oklahomans• for• Equality. “She• made• sure• everyone• knew• about• the• Equality• Center•and•its•programs.•She• brought• us• a• lot• of• national• attention• and• connections• that•we•didn’t•have•before. “I• don’t• think• the• average• gay• person• in• Tulsa• has• any• idea• that• this• mother• with• the• strong• Arkansas• accent• was• the• kind• of• warrior• she• was• in• fighting• for• our• issues.” In• 2000,• Wagner• was• a• grand• marshal• in• Tulsa’s• annual• gay• pride• parade,• alongside• Gabi• Clayton,• with•whom•she•had•founded• the• support• group• Families• United•Against•Hate. In• a• statement• this• week,• Families• United• praised• Wagner’s• life:• “Plenty• of• people• tried• to• stop• her,• but• never• with• any• success.• …• We• know• her• legacy• will• never•die•as•long•as•we•carry• the• spirit• of• her• love• within• us,• and• take• action• with• as• much• courage,• humor,• and• wisdom•as•she•did.” Wagner• once• talked• about• her• youth• in• a• report• issued• by•the•Southern•Poverty•Law•

Center. She•had•been•a•witness•to• Klan•violence•at•an•early•age• and•used• to• drive•her• father• to•his•Klan•meetings. Although• she• went• only• reluctantly,• Wagner• said• it• wasn’t• until• that• night• in• 1965• that• she• made• up• her• mind•not•to•be•a•passive•observer•any•longer. A•Fort•Smith,•Ark.,•native,• who• held• a• nursing• degree• from• Westark• College,• Carolyn• Wagner,• a• registered• nurse• by• trade,• devoted• much•of•her•professional•career• to• children,• including• abuse•victims•and•those•suffering• from• cancer• and• terminal•illnesses. She• founded• Camp• Rainbow,• a• camp• for• children• with•cancer,•which•later•became• Children’s• Oncology• Camps•of•America. Bill•Wagner•said:•“Carolyn• will• be• remembered• as• an• activist• and• civil• rights• hero• to•many,•but•for•me•she•was• simply•the•love•of•my•life,•my• best• friend• and• an• amazing• mother•to•our•children.” Wagner•is•survived•by•her• husband• of• 37• years,• Bill• Wagner;• one• son,• William• Wagner• II;• one• daughter,• Clara• Kelly• Stein;• and• two• granddaughters. Friends• are• contributing• to• Families• United• Against• Hate•or•PFLAG. Tim Stanley 581-8385

Death notice policy Funeral homes may submit free death notices by Internet, e-mail (obits@tulsaworld.com) or fax (581-8353) until 8 p.m. daily or by phone (581-8347) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

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DEATH NOTICES

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TULSA

Anderson, Catherine F., 97, homemaker, died Friday. Services pending. Ninde Brookside. Bevenue, Ruby Adaline, 82, hairdresser, died Wednesday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Monday, Reynolds Funeral Service Chapel. AdamsCrest Cremation. Carden, Larry Wayne “Sonny,” 63, John Zink draftsman, died Wednesday. Service 2 p.m. Monday, Snake Creek Baptist Church, Locust Grove. Locust Grove Funeral Home, Locust Grove. Castro, Norberto, 92, retired Citgo supervisor, died Friday. Services pending. Moore’s Rosewood. Darrah, Carolina “Becky” (Beckloff), 81, homemaker, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Monday, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Stanleys. Forselius, Arth “Rob” IV, 40, Navy veteran, died Sunday. Services pending. Add’Vantage. Graham, Brian Christopher “Chris,” 31, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa technician, died Thursday in Pryor. Visitation 1-6 p.m. Sunday, McClendonWinters Funeral Home, Okmulgee, and service 2 p.m. Monday, Calvary Baptist Church, Okmulgee. Howell, Robert Watson, 78, Southwestern Bell installer, died Tuesday. Service 1 p.m. Monday, Memorial Baptist Church. Floral Haven, Broken Arrow.

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BIRTHS

(Tulsans unless indicated)

Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center

Mason, Jeffery Lester, 60, asphalt contractor, died Sunday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Saturday, Pentecostal Church of West Tulsa. Sien-Shelton, Skiatook. Owens, Jim, 87, Tulsa Public Schools head custodian, died Wednesday. Visitation 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Hayhurst Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 1 p.m. Monday, Woodlake Church. Pender, Esther Lee, 71, wool and silk finisher, died Tuesday. Visitation 1-8 p.m. Sunday and service 10 a.m. Monday, both at Moore’s Memory Funeral Home. Spengel, Robert L. “Bob,” 63, carpenter, died Friday. Services pending. Add’Vantage. Thomas, Raymond, 73, truck driver, died Jan. 17. Visitation 1-6 p.m. Monday and Masonic rites 6-7 p.m. Monday, both at Dyer Funeral Home, and service 11 a.m. Tuesday, Love Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. Vanderford, Gary D., 53, stonelayer, died Thursday. Services pending. AdamsCrest Cremation. Wagner, Carolyn Marie, 57, registered nurse, died Tuesday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Saturday, Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Serenity. Weems, Marjorie, 86, Tulsa Community College bookkeeper, died Thursday. Services pending. Moore’s Rosewood. Whittington, Barbara, 66, retired Tulsa Public Schools teacher, died Thursday. Services pending. Moore’s Rosewood.

Sara Sanders and Robert Clyma, Sapulpa, boy. Jennifer Witzkoske and Josh Graham, girl.

St. Francis Hospital South

Lauren and Jack Beesley, boy. Katie and Chris Green, girl. Jessica and Jacob Palmer, boy. Jennie Roland-Smith and David Smith, girl.

Jacqueline Binkley and Anthony Shook, Bixby, girl. Jessica and Christopher Martin, Tahlequah, boy. Lisa and Brandon Reagle, girl. Cynthia and Robert Robertson, boy. Kari and David Rockwood, Sand Springs, boy. Jamie Spottedbird and Matthew Nix, Mounds, girl. Emma and Daniel Tormey, Jenks, boy. Casey and Zack Wilmott, Kiefer, girl.

St. Francis Hospital

OSU Medical Center

Penny and Thomas Guglielmo, boy. Vache Perry and LaJuan Prear Jr., boy. Lisa Sanders and Curtis Barber Jr., boy.

St. John Medical Center

Lisa and Dusty First, Jenks, girl. April and Billerious Lyons, twin boys. Hayley and Jon Mangels, Broken Arrow, boy. Jessica and Jacob Martin, Broken Arrow, girl. Ashley McKee and Jeremy Jones, Sapulpa, boy. Lacy Horton and Thomas Pruitt, Sapulpa, girl. Heather and Dusty Otis, Bixby, boy. Melissa and Tony Rainey, boy.

Jessi Colson and Delano Prince, boy. Tasha Russell, boy. 

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MARRIAGES

(Tulsans unless indicated)

Shannon Green, 26; Eric Richards, 30. Kayce Hampton, 20, of Siloam Springs, Ark.; Christopher Prater, 21, of Colcord.

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STATE/AREA Funeral home, church and cemetery locations are in the city under which the death notice is listed unless otherwise noted.

Bartlesville — Jerry L. Foust, 65, safety and security administrator, died Thursday. Service 2 p.m. Monday, Tuxedo Assembly of God. Walker-Brown. — Mildred Inez Davis, 99, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Monday, Church of Christ, Dewey. Stumpff. — Juanita B. Jones, 94, died Wednesday. Service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel. — Terrell V. “Terry” Webb, 72, died Dec. 16. Memorial service 10 a.m. Monday, Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel. Bixby — James R. Dickinson, 89, city and county building inspector, died Friday. Services pending. Moore’s Southlawn, Tulsa. Broken Arrow — Robert B. Hanis, 77, American Airlines international aircraft maintenance managing director, died Wednesday. Services pending. Kennedy-Kennard. Checotah — Thelma Lassetter, 71, retired waitress, died Friday. Service 10 a.m. Saturday, First Baptist Church. Garrett Family. Chelsea — Paul David Granofsky Jr., 51, laborer, died Jan. 14. Services pending. MusgroveMerriott-Smith, Claremore.

SEE DEATH NOTICES A17

Jetonne Krug, 22, of Carrollton, Texas; Graeme Collett, 26. LeShonda Thompson, 26; Barry Ritter, 34, both of Coweta. Silvia Turmero, 27; Pablo Chiquin Sosa, 32. 

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DIVORCES ASKED

Bunch, Jacob from Jessica. Cooper, Sarah from Christopher. Hamilton, Brittany from Clinton. Hill, Sonya from Stephen. Marr, Felicia from Ronald III. McKee, M. from W. Jr. Murray, Susan from Michael. Reynolds, Nicholas from Emelia. Steinbach, J. from T. Strickland, Sarah from Samuel Stern.

GRANTED

Aaron, Jennifer from James. Brentlinger, Robin from Steven. Brown, Steve from Marieta. Cunningham, Heather from Benjamin. Kik, Heather from Scott. Naruszewicz, Vickie from Henry. Padilla, Jackie from Andres. Smithey, Trent from Catherine.

tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com

Concentration camp survivor-turned Nazi hunter dies at 88 Tuviah• Friedman• survived• years•in•a•series•of•concentration•camps•during•World•War• II.•His•parents•and•two•siblings• perished,•and•he•had•seen•Nazis•kill•dozens•of•others. Friedman,• who• died• Jan.• 13• at• age• 88• in• Haifa,• Israel,• made• it• his• life’s• work• to• bring•his•captors•to•justice.•As• a• Nazi• hunter• after• the• war,• he• was• credited• with• helping• to• find• Adolf• Eichmann,• the• German• officer• who• was• considered• a• major• architect• of•the•Holocaust. Born• to• a• Jewish• family• in• Poland,• Friedman• “was• an• indefatigable• and• sometimes• brash• or• even• intemperate• voice• for• justice• on• behalf• of• the•victims•of•Nazi•inhumanity,”• said• Eli• Rosenbaum,• a• prosecutor• with• the• Justice• Department•who•has•investigated•Nazi•war•crimes•cases. After•the•war•ended•in•Europe,• Friedman• worked• with• Soviet• and• Polish• authorities• who• were• seeking• evidence• of• German• atrocities.• In• the• spring•of•1945,•they•sent•him• to•inspect•an•abandoned•Nazi• facility• on• the• outskirts• of• what• was• then• Danzig,• now• Gdansk,•Poland. “One• room• was• filled• with•

U.S.-WORLD DEATHS naked• corpses,”• Friedman• wrote• in• his• 1961• memoir,• “The•Hunter.”•“Another•room• was• filled• with• boards• on• which•were•stretched•human• skins.• Nearby• was• a• smaller• building,• with• a• heavy• padlock.• We• broke• in• and• found• an•oven•in•which•the•Germans• had•experimented•in•the•manufacture•of•soap,•using•human• fat•as•raw•material.” Friedman• was• often• described• as• working• in• the• shadow•of•Simon•Wiesenthal,• a•renowned•Nazi•hunter•who• died• in• 2005.• Unlike• Wiesenthal,• a• self-promoter,• Friedman• toiled• in• obscurity• for• most•of•his•career.•He•pursued• Eichmann• with• a• maniacal• passion.• He• scoured• thousands• of• documents• and• interviewed• hundreds• of• Holocaust•survivors•for•hints•of•the• Nazi•officer’s•whereabouts. Eichmann•had•disappeared• from• Germany• after• the• war• and•was•the•subject•of•an•international• manhunt.• Eichmann’s•wife•tried•to•have•him• declared•dead. To• get• background• on• Eichmann’s•family,•Friedman• visited• Linz,• Austria,• where•

Eichmann’s• father• owned• an• electrical• goods• store,• and• bought•a•light•bulb. “I• felt,• after• looking• at• the• old• man,• that• I• had• seen• Satan’s•father,”•Friedman•wrote. The• Eichmann• trail• soon• ran• cold.• Friedman’s• team• was• disbanded,• and• in• 1952• he•moved•to•Israel.•In•Haifa,• Friedman’s•life•bringing•Nazi• war• criminals• to• justice• became•a•lonely•obsession. He•bought•classified•ads•in• newspapers,• asking• for• tipsters• to• contact• his• one-man• foundation:• the• Institute• of• Documentation•for•the•Investigation•of•Nazi•War•Crimes. As• years• passed,• Friedman• found• that• interest• in• finding•Eichmann•waned.•He•received•little•cooperation•from• government• authorities• who• were•focused•on•the•burgeoning• Cold• War.• He• was• financially• supported• by• his• wife,• an•eye•surgeon. In•the•late•1950s,•Friedman• lobbied• the• World• Jewish• Congress•and•the•Israeli•government•to•offer•a•reward•for• information• leading• to• Eichmann’s• arrest.• Friedman’s• activism• paid• off• Oct.• 18,• 1959,• when• a• letter• originating• from• Argentina• came• to•

his•address.•The•sender•was•a• partially•blind•survivor•of•the• Dachau•camp.•He•wrote•that• Eichmann• was• alive• and• living• near• Buenos• Aires• under• an•assumed•name. Overjoyed• with• the• tip,• Friedman• alerted• Israeli• authorities.• Unbeknownst• to• him,•they•were•already•working•on•a•plan•to•capture•Eichmann.• He• was• kidnapped• by• Israeli• commandos• in• May• 1960•and•smuggled•to•Israel. Planning• for• Eichmann’s• trial,• Israeli• police• sought• the• help•of•Friedman,•who•provided•investigators•with•hundreds• of• documents• related• to• the• Nazi’s• war• crimes.• Eichmann,• convicted•of•crimes•against•humanity,•was•hanged•in•1962.

Longtime Ice Capades star Donna Atwood dies at 85 Ice•Capades•star•Donna•Atwood• had• spent• almost• half• her• life• on• the• road• when• she• left• professional• figureskating• behind• at• 31• to• raise• her• three• young• children• in• a• custom-built• Beverly• Hills• home• complete• with• a• piano• that•folded•into•the•wall. She• was• so• famous• that•

Los•Angeles•Times•headlines• from• the• era• used• only• her• first• name.• “Donna• to• Retire• in• 1956• for• Home• Life,”• said• one• atop• an• article• that• portrayed• her• as• longing• to• “trade• it• all• in• for• ‘home,• sweet•home.’” Yet•it•was•a•bittersweet•decision• for• both• Atwood• and• her• husband,• John• Harris,• operating• owner• of• the• touring• Ice• Capades.• To• have• his• wife• home• full• time,• he• had• to•give•up•the•longtime•star•of• his•successful•enterprise. Atwood• died• Dec.• 20• in• California’s• San• Fernando• Valley• at• 85.• Her• family• confirmed•her•death•this•week. Inspired•after•seeing•Olympic• champion• Sonja• Henie’s• ice• revue,• a• 13-year-old• Atwood•skated•onto•the•ice•for• the•first•time•at•the•Polar•Palace•in•Hollywood. Days•before•her•16th•birthday,• the• largely• self-taught• skater• medaled• twice• at• the• 1941• U.S.• Figure• Skating• Championships.•She•won•the• senior• pairs• crown• with• Eugene•Turner•and•also•took•the• junior•ladies•title. Harris• was• scouting• for• new•Ice•Capades•talent•when• he•saw•Atwood•skate•in•1941•

and•offered•her•a•contract. At• 16,• she• signed• with• the• show• and• within• a• year• was• its• star,• “charming• audiences”• and• displaying• “dramatic• flair,”•according•to•a•tribute•in• the• 2002• U.S.• Figure• Skating• Championships•program. Billed• as• “the• Sweetheart• of•the•Ice,”•she•toured•the•U.S.• and•Canada•for•15•years,•giving• more• than• 6,000• performances•in•two•dozen•venues,• The•Times•reported•in•1956. Disney• used• her• as• one• of• two• human• models• for• the• ice-skating• sequence• with• Bambi• and• Thumper• in• the• 1942• animated• Disney• movie• “Bambi.” Life• magazine• put• Atwood• and•her•longtime•Ice•Capades• skating•partner•Bobby•Specht• on• the• cover• in• 1946• along• with• a• simple• headline:• “Ice• Show.” In• 1949,• she• married• Harris,• who• was• 27• years• her• senior.• A• year• later,• she• gave• birth• to• twin• sons• and• had• a• daughter• in• 1952.• When• her• sons• reached• school• age,• it• was•time•for•Atwood•to•establish•“a•real•home”•and•retire,• she• said• upon• announcing• her•decision. — FROM WIRE REPORTS