Published: March 23, 2007 03:26 pm            

Obituaries, March 25

Alfred Beebe Bragg

Alfred “Alfie” Beebe Bragg, 65, passed away March 14 after battling cancer. A service in his honor was March 17 at Gospel Tabernacle, N.E. 36th Street in Spencer. His former pastor, the Rev. Randy D. Leniger presided. Burial was held at 3 p.m. at Davenport Cemetery in Davenport. Services were under the direction of Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife, Elise; and a son, Barry Bragg and family of Oklahoma City; a stepson, Terry Nunley and family of Meeker; two stepdaughters, Anna Holstien and family of Harrah and Becky Sutmiller of Oklahoma City; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Beatrice Bragg; and two previous spouses. He was a Vietnam veteran and a retiree from the U.S. Postal Service. He worked with the Boy Scouts for 25 years. He also worked several years with the Gospel Tabernacle Academy as a physical education coach and bus driver. He cooked and baked for everyone that knew him, and assisted in the kitchen at many church meeting in Oklahoma and Kansas.



Tom Vandemeer Jr.

Tom Vandemeer Jr. of Oklahoma City passed away March 16, 2007, in Norman Regional Hospital. A memorial service was at 2 p.m. March 24, 2007, at Bill Eisenhour Northeast Chapel. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour N.E. He was born to Henry T. and Laura M. (Vaughn) Vandemeer Sr. May 27, 1928, in Oklahoma City. He married Ruby Anne (Parman) Feb. 1, 1969. He graduated from Central High School in 1946 and was an educator for Oklahoma City, Putnam City and Mid-Del School systems. He was a longtime referee for football and basketball. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Anne; one son, Steve of Midwest City; and a daughter, Stacey Anderson and husband Blake of Keller, Texas; three stepsons, John Wagner and wife Jonie of Oklahoma City, Bob Wagner and wife Ginny of Moore and Rick Wagner and wife Leslie of Moore; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Stanley and Stuart Vandemeer; a brother, David Vandemeer; and a sister, Ruth M. Vandemeer. In lieu of flowers, the family requested a donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.



Joseph Randle Culpepper

Joseph Randle Culpepper, 31, of Choctaw, passed away March 18, 2007. He was born June 7, 1975 to Bill and Becky Culpepper at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. He had a passion for racing cars, 4-wheelers, motorcycles and anything faster than foot. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Frances McClurg. He is survived by his wife, Charity; two daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne; his parents, Billy and Becky Culpepper of Harrah; his in-laws, Bruce and Geneva Clark of Newalla and Joel and Donna Shives of Hinesville, Ga.; his grandfather, William V. McClurg of Anniston, Alab.; an uncle, Andy McClurg and wife Laurie of Grand Prairie, Texas; and many other relatives and friends. Services were held Thursday at Choctaw Road Baptist Church under the direction of Hibbs Funeral Home in Choctaw. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been set up at BancFirst locations for Savannah and Cheyenne Culpepper.



Albert J. Harris Jr.

Albert J. Harris Jr., 53, of Midwest City, passed away March 19, 2007. Funeral services were held at Bill Eisenhour Northeast Chapel at 1 p.m. Friday. Burial followed at Arlington Memory Gardens. Services were under the direction of BIll Eisenhour Northeast Funeral Service. He was born Dec. 15, 1953 in Tinker Air Force Base to Albert J. Harris Sr. and Katherine Harris. He is survived by his mother, Katherine of Oklahoma City; an aunt, Linda Bohde of Oklahoma City; two uncles, Mike Harris of Oklahoma City and Roger Harris of Bokchito; and numerous cousins and friends. He graduated from Midwest City High School and loved automobiles. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert J. Harris Sr.



Chester F. Strunk

Chester F. Strunk, 92, died March 18, 2007, in Elkhorn, Wis. He was born in Ashland, Pa. and graduated from Ashland High School in 1933. Mr. Strunk served in the Army for five years during World War II. He moved to Del City in 1950. He retired after 30 years of service as a firefighter at Tinker Air Force Base. He also served as a volunteer fireman for Del City. He was a member of Sunny Lane United Methodist Church for 51 years. For 64 years he was married to, and now survived by Mary (King) Strunk. He is also survived by a son, Kenneth (Dian) of Burlington, Wis.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a niece; and three nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Harry Strunk; his mother, Ida (Nagle) Strunk; and two sisters, Catherine Snyder and Florence Clews. A funeral service was 2 p.m. March 23 at Sunny Lane United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jerry Darter officiated. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in his name. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home.



Barbara E. Connole

Barbara E. Connole, 86, of Midwest City passed away March 17, 2007. Graveside services were 2:30 p.m. March 24, 2007, at Palms Memorial Park Cemetery in Naranja, Fla. Services were under the direction of Barnes and Johnson Funeral Home. She was born Oct. 9, 1920, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, to Clayton and Lulu Matheson. She had a 30-year career in administration in the legal, banking and engineering professions and was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, William. She is survived by two sons, Lawrence and wife Betty of Houston, Texas, and Robert and wife Kathleen of Choctaw; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requested a donation be made in her memory to the charity of your choice.



Elsie P. Zerfing

Elsie P. Zerfing was born Oct. 16, 1913, in Millersburg, Penn., and passed away March 20, 2007. Funeral services were 10 a.m. March 22 at Ascension Lutheran Church. Burial was at Maple Grove Cemetery in Elizabethville, Pa. Services were under the direction of Caskets Inc. in Del City. She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Beam; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; 12 nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Zerfing; parents, Walter and Jennie (Shaffer) Louden; and brother, J.C. Louden.

        

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