Published: March 28, 2007 11:04 am            

Obituaries, March 28

Ethel Mae (Gray) Shaum

Ethel Mae (Gray) Shaum, passed away March 2007. A worship service and celebration of her life was 2 p.m. March 20 at Christ Church. Arrangements were under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home. She was born Jan. 14, 1934, in Oklahoma City. She last resided in Sherman, Texas. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gene Shaum; a sister, Thelma Hughes; two sons, Randy E. Shaum of San Antonio, Texas and Rickey L. Shaum of Dallas, Texas; and four grandsons. She was a 22-year resident of Grayson County and a member of Christ Church in Sherman, Texas. Her passions included crocheting, the outdoors, keeping house and cooking meals for family and friends.



Charles Ray Whiteman

Charles Ray Whiteman was born Dec. 17, 1932, to Charles Rich and Jessie Edith Whiteman and died March 21, 2007. Funeral services were 10 a.m. March 26 at First Baptist Church of Midwest City. Burial followed at Arlington Memory Gardens. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour N.E. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve during the 1950s. He studied government and politics at Rose State College and the University of Maryland. He received many academic and service awards during his long civil service career. In 1956, he became a field engineer with Philco Corporation and worked at various sites on the West Coast in radar communications and received Air Defense Command Commendation for superior performance in 1960. He received a civil service award in 1966 while in the jungles of Japan as a radar technician at Naha Air Base in Okinawa. He retired as Section Chief of Quality Assurance from Tinker Air Force Base in 1990. He married Teruko Tamagusuku June 4, 1963, in Naha Okinawa, Japan, and had five children while living in Japan. He is survived by his wife, Teruko; three sons, Lee Terumi Whiteman, Ronnie Whiteman and wife Lisa of Midwest City and Charles Richard Whiteman and wife Annie of Oklahoma City; two daughters, Terri Lynn and husband Paul C. Andrews of Choctaw and Charlene Edith Smith of Oklahoma City; a brother, Paul Howard Whiteman of Plano, Texas; and many grandchildren, other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ronnie Whiteman; and a niece, Chelsea Whiteman.



Mildred B. Spencer

Mildred B. Spencer, 86, of Midwest City passed away March 18, 2007. Services were 11 a.m. March 20 at the Mausoleum, Arlington Memory Gardens. Burial took place at Arlington Memory Gardens. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour N.E. Funeral Home. She was born Oct. 22, 1920, in Goodman, Mo. She attended the First Baptist Church of Midwest City. She retired from her job as a beautician in the mid-’90s. She is survived by three sons, Michael Spencer and wife Carol, Steve Spencer and wife Molly and Phillip Spencer, all of Midwest City; three grandchildren; a sister, Helen Cast of Salsbury, Md.; and a number of nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Bernie Stone; her husband, Charles (2001); and a sister, Wadene Giles.



Dianna Matz

Dianna Matz, 40, passed away March 20, 2007. Funeral services were 2 p.m. March 24, at Bill Eisenhour Southeast Chapel. Burial took place at Arlington Memory Gardens. She was born July 11, 1966, to David and Mary Ann Sourjohn. She graduated from Star Spencer High School and was a registered nurse. She was a cheerleader, enjoyed basketball games, movies, flea markets, OSU basketball and music. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Matz; a sister, Rhonda White and husband Jeff; a brother, David Davis Jr. and wife Donna; two daughters, Whitnee Collette Ware-Davis and Monica Marie Matz; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.



Gwendella Barton McKinney

Gwendella Barton McKinney, 81, of Midwest City passed March 20, 2007. Services were 11 a.m. March 23 at Arlington Memory Gardens. Burial took place at the Mausoleum. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour N.E. Funeral Home. She was born in Walla Walla, Wash., Dec. 23, 1925. She was a homemaker and loved reading, country and Western music and crocheting. She was a cups and saucers collector. She is survived by a daughter, Suzanne Miles of Edmond; two grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth Barton of Walla Walla, Wash.; a great-grandson; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Flora Barton; her husband, James Miles (1981); two brothers; and a sister.



Elke S. Fedorchak

Elke S. Fedorchak, 69, passed away March 22, 2007. She was a champion bowler, won skeet shooting trophies, enjoyed flower and landscaping gardening and was devoted to her husband, Joseph. She is survived by her husband, Joseph; a son, Ditmar; a granddaughter, Tina; two siblings, Anita and Hanebre of Hamburg, Germany; and numerous neighbors and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.



John L. Perkins

John L. Perkins, 83, of Oklahoma City passed away March 20, 2007. Graveside services were 10 a.m. March 23, 2007, at the Arlington Memory Gardens Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home. He was born to Thomas and Mary (Lambe) Perkins May 26, 1923, in Laurel Branch, Va. He was a World War II Army veteran. Perkins came to Oklahoma City in 1948, previously living in Newcomb, Tenn. He did electrician maintenance work for Prestolite Battery Co. for 25 years. He was a “Mr. Fix It.” He could build or fix anything mechanical. He is survived by two sons, Johnny Perkins and Tommy Perkins; three daughters, Glenda Heiskill, Joyce Reel and Donna Ragsdale; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ruby Phillips. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife of 54 years, Betty; a grandson, John Steven; seven brothers; and a sister.



Mildred Lee “Millie” Wright

Mildred Lee “Millie” Wright, 72, passed away March 21, 2007, at her home. The family saw friends at the funeral home March 23. Funeral services were 10 a.m. March 24 at the Paylor Dignity Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Memorial Park Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Paylor Funeral Home. She was born March 7, 1935, in Monterey, Tenn., to Gilbert and Kate Wilson. She lived in Midwest City for 45 years. She owned and operated the Skytrain Theater until her retirement in 1993. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Vickie Cluck. She is survived by her husband, Jerry; three daughters, Lynda McEwen of Midwest City, Robin Trumble of Moore and Jenny Davis and husband Bill of Newalla; a son, Ronnie Shock of Midwest City; three sisters, Mable, Betty and Geraldine; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.



Delta Coletta Straka

Delta Coletta Straka was born July 19, 1937, to John and Velma (Rush) Carroll and passed away March 22, 2007. Services were Monday at the Asa Smith Memorial Chapel in Harrah. Brother Stephen Carr officiated. Burial followed at the Czech Cemetery in Oklahoma City. Services were under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah. A guest book is available at www.smithparks.com. She was a housewife, taking care of her family on the family farm just outside Harrah, where she spent more than 51 years as the loving wife of Doyle D. Straka. She is survived by her husband, Doyle; a daughter, Teresa and husband David Fryar; two sons, Carl and wife Sherri and Roger and wife Sherry; six grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a sister, Wanda and husband Ernie Ford, all of Harrah; and a host of other friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Donelda.



Sammye Delene Smith

Former Harrah resident Sammye Delene Smith, 70, of Holdenville passed away March 22, 2007, at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. Services were 10 a.m. Thursday at Barnard Memorial United Methodist Church in Holdenville. Burial was at Holdenville Cemetery. Fisher Funeral Home in Holdenville, was in charge of arrangements. She was the daughter of Samuel Asa and Martha Melinda (Worthen) White, and was born April 17, 1936, in Yeager. She graduated from Holdenville High School in 1954 and married Winfred (Smitty) Smith March 2, 1957, in Seminole. They lived in Holdenville; Hopewell, Va.; Farmington, N.M.; Wewoka; Oklahoma City; Harrah; and back to Holdenville in 2001. She and her husband celebrated 50 happy years together March 2, 2007. She worked as a telephone operator and convenience store clerk and was receptionist/secretary for Asa Smith Funeral Service in Harrah for 25 years. She worked as a substitute teacher in both Harrah and Holdenville and was secretary at Barnard Memorial United Methodist Church in Holdenville, where she was a member, for five and a half years. She was preceded in death by her parents; and four sisters, Helen Conn, Gladys Coburn, Pauline Melton and Earlene Lovelace. She is survived by her husband, Smitty; a daughter, Starla of Harrah; a sister, Iva Horn; and many nephews, nieces, other relatives and many friends.



Vickie Dawn Rhinehart

Vickie Dawn Rhinehart was born Aug. 26, 1967, and passed away March 24, 2007, after a battle with cancer. She gave birth to two daughters; Brittney and Brooke, who gave her life purpose. She was a devoted mother, sister, daughter and trusted friend. She is survived by her two daughters, Brittney and Brooke and their father, Donald King; her mother, Julia Dawn Rhinehart; two sisters, Sherry and Gwen; and three brothers, Gary, Nicky and Troy; and many nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers-in-law. Funeral services were 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bill Eisenhour Northeast Chapel. Burial followed at the Memory Lane Cemetery in Harrah. Visitation was from noon to 9 p.m. Monday.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.