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8265124 1029 Quinn1029.jpg Add'Vantage
OBITUARIES
8265190 1029 Graves1029.jpg Mowery
Lillie Quinn
Death notice policy
Fax: 918-583-3550. Funeral homes may fax free death notices to 918-581-8353 or call 918-581-8347 from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Funeral homes may submit free death notices by Internet, e-mail (obits@tulsaworld.com) or fax 918-581-8353 until 8 p.m. daily or by phone 918-581-8347 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Bob Plumlee 1921-2011
Gabriel W. Graves
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Gabriel W. Graves was born November 4, 1978, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Wayne and Shirley Anne (Bettis) Graves. He died Wednesday, October 26, 2011, in Eufaula, Oklahoma, at the age of 32 years. He was reared and educated in Oklahoma City and Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and graduated with the Kingfisher High School Class of 1995. He spent most of his working life as a sales representative. Gabe enjoyed a variety of pastimes, especially music and playing the guitar. He was very artistic and enjoyed sketching as well as writing poetry. His greatest pride was his two beautiful daughters. Loving family members include: his two daughters, Isabelle Graves, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Venice Graves, of Piedmont, Oklahoma; mother and step-father, Shirley Anne and Emmett Gilliam, of Claremore,
Lillie Quinn, 86, of Tulsa, OK went to be with the Lord on October 22, 2011 The majority of her adult life she worked at Lee Way Motor Freight while being a loving wife and mother and devoted member of Mayfair Church of Christ, OKC. Memorial Service will be 2 pm Tuesday November 1st at Durham Community Center, Durham, OK. Add’Vantage Funeral Service, Tulsa.
TULSA Bitner, Barbra Jean (Cornelius) Bitner, 87, homemaker, died Saturday. Services pending. Ninde Brookside. Browne, Matthew J., 59, attorney, died Wednesday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Sunday, Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Funeral Home Chapel. Campos, Antonio “Tony,” 88, tailor, died Thursday. Services pending. Floral Haven, Broken Arrow. Carter, Earl W., 62, retired from Marine Corps, died Monday. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Sunday and service 11 a.m. Monday, both at Keith D. Biglow Funeral Home. Graves, Gabriel W., 32, sales representative, died Wednesday. Visitation 3-5 p.m. Saturday and service 2 p.m. Sunday, both at Mowery Funeral Home, Owasso. Hanson, Homer Gerald, 85, terminal manager, died Tuesday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Friday, Southminister Presbyterian Church. Stanley’s. Harlow, Fannie Ada, 88, died Tuesday. Service 1 p.m. Monday, Mark Griffith-Westwood Funeral Home Chapel. Isaacs, Thomas Ray “Tommy,” 63, U.S. Postal Service employee, died Wednesday. Visitation 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and service 10 a.m. Monday, both at Mobley-Dodson Funeral Home, Sand Springs. King, Errol George, 53, died Oct. 12. Services pending. Mark Griffith-Riverside, Sand Springs. Lankster, Joel Paul, 70, Sheffield Steel supervisor, died Tuesday. Service 11 a.m. Saturday, Greenwood Christian Center. Keith D. Biglow. Lewis, Edna M., 92, Hillcrest Medical licensed practical nurse, died Wednesday. Visitation 1-5 p.m. Monday and service 11 a.m. Tuesday, both at Dyer Memorial Funeral Home. Plumlee, Robert D., 90, retired Carnation Milk Co. supervisor, died Thursday. Memorial service 10 a.m. Saturday, Will Rog
MARRIAGES
(Tulsans unless indicated)
Letica Aguirre, 29; Jorge Lopez, 23. Oralia Avila, 26; Saul Laguna, 25. Amber Bailey, 26, of Owasso; Brandon Boyd, 28. Gabrielle Bailey, 23; Allan Logan, 23, of Saint John, Canada. Kristen Bauchaus, 19; Blake Ballard, 27. Candi Chappell, 41, of Yukon; Roderick Ellison, 39, of El Reno. Ursula Hallford, 36; Daniel Kinzer, 41, of Owasso. Christina Hamilton, 29; Michael Summers, 31, both of Claremore. Brandie Holmes, 29; Anthony Johnson, 30, both of Jenks. Bryanna Huberty, 24; Benjamin Coleman, 23, of Bixby. Danita Isom, 29, of Kingfisher; Robert Davis 29. Ciara Laughlin, 21; Aubrey Penrod, 22, both of Broken Arrow. Sarah Rausch, 23; Justin Jurecek, 26, both of Granbury, Texas. Christen Richards, 29; Doyle Hubanks Jr, 37. Elizabeth Romero, 21; Oscar Cortes, 27.
Oklahoma; sister and brother-inlaw, Brandy and Jesse Smith, of Kingfisher, Oklahoma; nephews, Trace Rader and Baylor GravesSmith, both of Kingfisher, Oklahoma; and numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Graves, brother, Daniel Bostick, and his maternal and paternal grandparents. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, October 29, 2011, and funeral service 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 30, 2011, both at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso, Oklahoma, with Minister Steve Chisholm officiating. Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 31, 2011, at Kingfisher Cemetery in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com
Create free online memorials at tulsaworld.com/ourlives
DEATH NOTICES
ers United Methodist Church. Cremation Society. Sawyer, Thelma L., 92, homemaker, died Friday. Services pending. Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry. Stokes, Raphael, 55, cab driver, died Wednesday. Services pending. Dyer. Upshaw, Merlin Wayne, 92, geophysical velocity engineer, died Thursday. Services pending. Mark Griffith-Westwood. Walker, Cleo, 85, died Friday. Services pending. Keith D. Biglow. Wright, Wilma, 101, homemaker, died Friday. Services pending, Jack’s.
STATE/AREA Funeral home, church and cemetery locations are in the city under which the death notice is listed unless otherwise noted.
Afton — Donna Sue Wheatley, 77, homemaker, died Thursday in Grove. Visitation 3-5 p.m. Sunday, First Assembly of God; graveside service 10 a.m. Monday, Mount Hope Cemetery, and celebration of life 11 a.m. First Assembly of God. Adcock. Bartlesville — Billie Joe Forrest, 75, truck driver, died Wednesday. Private family services. Stumpff. Beggs — Alvin Combs, 79, retired bus driver, died Thursday in Tulsa. Services pending. Keith D. Biglow, Okmulgee. Blackwell — Veronica Carlson, 33, died Tuesday. Memorial service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Roberts & Sons Funeral Home Chapel. — Howard Leroy Jennings, 73, retired, died Friday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Roberts & Sons Funeral Home Chapel. — Warren Dee Foster, 73, General Motors district manager, died Wednesday. Graveside service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Mount Olive Cemetery, Nardin. Roberts & Son. Bristow — Betty J. Hamby, 85, Avon representative, died Thursday. Services pending. Ninde Brookside. Broken Arrow — Carl M. “Mike” Tara Spence, 25; Brandon Harrison, 28. Amelia Wade, 30; Jason Spotts, 38.
DIVORCES ASKED Campbell, Vicki v. Timothy. Dawson, Christina v. Shane. Kong, Meiling v. Lee. Long, Brittany v. Steven. Mattingly, Sally v. Larry Jr. McCutcheon, Victoria v. Joshua. Meseraull, Taryn v. Thomas. Miles, Alan v. Jan. Pittser, Stephanie v. Corey. Sides, Melanie v. Sydne. Topper, Danny v. Martha. Warner, Margarita v. Donald. Watson, W. v. T. Waugh, Robert v. Jennifer. Whitney, David v. Joyce.
GRANTED Bailey, Brandon from Jammi. Brown, Kash from Terri. Brown, Mary from Herbert Forrest Jr. Brubaker, Joseph from Paula. Dixon, Cynthia from Jack.
Alred, 59, Alred Glass Co. owner, died Wednesday. Services pending. Floral Haven. — Frances Joanne Lambert Todd, 77, educator, died Friday. Services pending. KennedyKennard. Catoosa — Salvador Olivarez Jr., 48, maintenance supervisor, died Wednesday in Tulsa. Visitation 1-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Kennedy-Kennard Funeral Home, and service 11 a.m. Monday, Catoosa Activity Center. Cherryvale, Kan. — John “J.D.” Harper, 75, dairyman and Montgomery County Commission chairman, died Tuesday. Visitation 6-7 p.m. Sunday, Potts Funeral Home, and celebration of life 11 a.m. Monday, First Southern Baptist Church. Claremore — Donna Darlene (Files) Miller, 70, federal government civil service employee, died Thursday. Services pending. Serenity, Tulsa. — Jill Webster, 52, Conoco administrative assistant, died Thursday. Private family services. Rice. — John Robert Woodruff, 68, Woodruff and Associates owner, died Friday. Services pending. Add’Vantage. — Patsy N. Maxwell, 74, homemaker, died Thursday. Services pending. Rice. Coffeyville, Kan. — Jeannine Louise Shields, 81, died Friday. Visitation 10 a.m. Tuesday and service 11 a.m. Tuesday, both at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. Collinsville — John Thomas Vice, 74, millright, died Friday. Services pending. Collinsville Dolton. — Joyce Elaine Kearns, 53, died Friday. Services pending. Penwell-Gabel. Depew — Lecrecia Lynn Huls, 56, bail bondsman, died Friday. Services pending. Hutchins-Maples, Bristow. Dewey — John Rex Dean, 72, carpenter, died Monday. Graveside memorial service 10 a.m. Saturday, Wann Cemetery, Wann. Stumpff, Bartlesville. Eldon Valley — Roger Dale
Hink, Debra from Donald. Hopkins, Chelsea from Jimmy. Lewis, Stephanie from Charles Jr. Mikles, Michelle from David. Weaver, Janice from Jackie. Weese, Amanda from Luke.
BIRTHS
(Tulsans unless indicated)
Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center
Ana Bernal and Jose Puga, Mexico, boy. Kalin Campbell and Jose Galvan, boy.
St. Francis Hospital
Rebecca and Justin Dodson, girl. Kelsi Gatliff and Jared Burridge, Bixby, boy. Adela Hernandez and Alonzo Mora, girl. Shelby Holmes and Jared Harjo, Kellyville, boy. Kari Hutchcraft and Kory Lewis, girl. Sara Jo and Darrin Nance, Sapulpa, girl. Tobey and Brett Nightingale, Jenks, girl. Robyn and Brian Osman, girl. Ana Reyes and Leovanny Plaza,
Girdner, 48, Briggs Public Schools custodial engineer, died Wednesday. Service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Briggs Public School Gymnasium. Reed-Culver. Enid — Ione Lorraine Combrink, 91, died Thursday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Dugger Funeral Home, Garber, and service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Garber. Gore — Jack Straut, 64, heavy equipment operator, died Thursday in Dallas. Service 10 a.m. Monday, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Sallisaw. Mallory-Martin, Sallisaw. Grove — June Newburn Evinger, 85, retired from DHS, died Thursday. Service 2 p.m. Sunday, First Christian Church. WorleyLuginbuel. — Wayne Jackson, 73, retired from City of Grove, died Thursday. Visitation 4-6 Sunday, Nichols Funeral Home, and service 10 a.m. Monday, Bible Baptist Church. Clayton — Lula Sue Gray, 88, died Tuesday in Paris, Texas. Graveside service 2 p.m. Saturday, A.L. Stephens Cemetery. Clayton Funeral Home. Haskell — Dale Ridley, 82, retired from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, died Friday. Services pending. Dowdy. — Ollie Wade, 83, Boeing Aerospace test certification engineer, died Oct. 16 in California. Services pending. Keith D. Biglow, Muskogee. Heavener — James Dearld Graham, 26, auto detailer, died Thursday in Poteau. Service 1 p.m. Saturday, Evans & Miller Funeral Home Chapel, Poteau. Hominy — Virginia Kenyon, 85, homemaker, died Thursday. Graveside service 2 p.m. Tuesday, A.J. Powell Cemetery. Powell. Independence, Kan. — Helen Louise Burton, 76, cook, died Thursday. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Tuesday and celebration of life 11 a.m. Tuesday, both at Potts Funeral Home.
SEE DEATH NOTICES A17 boy. Tracy Roat and Nathan Davis, boy. Janelle and Aaron Sams, Bixby, boy. Misty and Travis Townzen, boy.
St. Francis Hospital South
Chasity Behn and Jordan White, girl. Shanna and Tony Cheatham, Haskell, girl Katherine and William Cohen, Broken Arrow, girl. Teena and Fernando Gonzalez, Broken Arrow, girl. Antwonette Mulrain and Clinton Taylor, boy. Rebecca Rutledge and Peter Gilbert, boy. Nagla Soliman and Khaled Meguid, girl. Barbara Thomas and James Hopkins, boy. Hayley and Hayes Violett, Claremore, boy.
St. John Owasso Hospital
Mary and Paul Combs, Claremore, girl. Cynthia and Joseph Slitzker, Collinsville, girl.
Bailey Medical Center, Owasso Ashley Lucas and Jamie Verdugo, Owasso, boy.
Bob Plumlee, pictured here at his Tulsa home in 2010, was a decorated World War II veteran who as an Army machine gunner participated in the D-Day invasion and eventual Allied conquest of northern Europe that it spawned. Plumlee, 90, died Oct. 20. A service is set for Saturday. Tulsa World file
D-Day veteran went on to start Tulsa-area band
BY TIM STANLEY
World Staff Writer
What he and his fellow troops saw at Normandy was just “too much,” Bob Plumlee said. Too much to take in, too much to make sense of. Too much to talk about, even. More than seven decades later, the World War II veteran’s memory of first glimpsing the American bodies that littered the beaches of Normandy, France, still defied his ability to put words to it — and he could not even begin to try without choking up. An Army machine gunner during the war, Plumlee participated in the historic DDay invasion of June 6, 1944, part of the initial force attacking German-held positions along the French coast. As the 22-year-old and his unit had approached Omaha Beach to join their fellow invaders, their landing ship was disabled by German fire and left stranded in the water. Plumlee could see — could feel — the intense fighting on the beach, however. He knew it was bad. When their disabled craft was at last towed into shore after several hours, allowing them to disembark, they found themselves at the scene of unimaginable carnage. But there wouldn’t be time to linger. The invasion of northern Europe, which would climax months later with the fall of Nazi Germany, was officially under way. Plumlee had his first taste of war. But there was much more to come. Robert D. “Bob” Plumlee, a longtime Tulsa resident who earned five Bronze Stars during the war, died Oct. 20. He was 90. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Will Rogers United Methodist Church. Cremation Society of Oklahoma was in charge of cremation. An accomplished harmonica player, Bob Plumlee was a founding member and longtime performer with the Round Up Boys, a Tulsaarea band that specialized in classic western swing and country. Of the 180 shows a year they played at one time, their favorite was a weekly lunchtime gig at Nelson’s Buffeteria in downtown Tulsa.
Although their Nelson’s songlist was heavy on Bob Wills, the Round Up Boys made a point of always including at least one gospel tune. It was their way of giving a nod to providence, something Plumlee felt strongly about. “All of my life I felt that God was looking after me,” he told the Tulsa World once, adding that without divine intervention he never would’ve survived the war. Bob Plumlee, who talked about his WWII experiences in a 2010 interview, was a private first class in the Army’s 413th AAA Gun Battalion. A native of Springdale, Ark., he had enlisted as soon as the U.S. entered the war. After D-Day, Plumlee’s unit crossed France into Belgium, engaging in the battles that would lead them ultimately to Germany. For all he’d witnessed at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, which lasted from December 1944 to January 1945, was worse, he said, and the bloodiest conflict of the war for the Americans. Plumlee also participated in the Rhineland campaign. There were narrow escapes everywhere he went. Once, Plumlee’s unit crossed over a damaged bridge at Remagen, Germany. Minutes after they’d passed, it collapsed. Several U.S. Army engineers at work on it were killed. But Plumlee survived it all to come home. After the war, he married Margaret, whom he had met in Philadelphia before shipping out. The couple settled in Tulsa, where Plumlee worked for Carnation Milk Co. for 30 years, retiring as a supervisor. His family’s official family historian, Plumlee was a charter member of the Tulsa Genealogical Society. The Round Up Boys started out as just Plumlee and a few pals getting together to play. Later, they began performing for audiences, first at nursing homes, and then festivals and events. Plumlee’s survivors include his wife of 65 years, Margaret Plumlee; a daughter, Norene Rauch; one grandson; and a brother, George Plumlee. Tim Stanley 918-581-8385 tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com
View daily obituaries, death notices & memorials at
tulsaworld.com/ourlives