Obituary for Nila Larkins

Nila Ruth Larkins

February 14, 1936 – August 9, 2016

Nila Ruth (Welch) Larkins, lifelong Ponca City Resident died Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital North in Oklahoma City. She was 80.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Ranch Drive Baptist Church with Dr. Robert Ryan officiating. Burial will follow at the Ponca City I.O.O.F. with arrangements under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Casket Bearers will be grandsons Robert Hardin, Braxton Bright, Justin Chambers, Evan Chambers, Brayden Bright and Austin Mears. Honorary Casket Bearer will be brother Lloyd Welch.

Nila was born on February 14, 1936 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Nelson Herbert (Ted) Welch and Eulalia Ida (Pennock) Welch. She attended Ponca City Schools and graduated from Ponca City Senior High with the class of 1954.

Nila was born again spiritually and baptized into God's family in June 1945 at Liberty Baptist Church. She was an active member of Ranch Drive Baptist Church, Ponca City, OK.
Nila worked as a steno in the Purchasing Department and in the plant Personnel of Conoco, Inc during the 1950-60's. She also worked as a steno in the Chaplains area for R.G. LeTourneau while in Longview, Texas.

She returned to Conoco as a steno and administrative secretary in Research and Development Department's Chemicals and Production R&D Divisions, Conoco Inc, from June 3, 1968 to September 23, 1993, retiring after 25 years of service. In addition to her 8 hour work day, she and her brother Allen and wife, LaVerne, managed the rentals and upkeep of Welch Crestview Shopping Center, 7th Street and Brookfield Ave (which was built by her father and 3 brothers), for 24 plus years from 1982 until it was sold in 2006.

She married Erman Orville Bright in 1954 and Victor Ray Price in 1968, both of them preceding her in death. In 1996 she was united in marriage to Thomas Oliver Larkins, Jr and they continued to make Ponca City their home.

Her top priority was her family. She enjoyed visiting and playing dominos (Chickenfoot and Mexican Train), Monopoly and various card games with all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren located in various areas of the U.S. She was known as the "Grandma with the 'Toy Box'!"

Nila organized Extended Welch Family Reunions through the years 1980 to 2008 which included children of her Father's five siblings (Mabel, Elda, Charles, Jr., Clarice and John) Later these reunions reduced to her brothers/families and her family's monthly get-togethers until 2013.

She was the pianist at Liberty Baptist, Sunset Baptist and Ranch Drive Baptist Churches. She was the Sunday School teacher of 2nd graders, Single Adults and Young Adults from 1970 to 2008. She taught piano lessons for three years from 1993 to 1996.

She is survived by her husband Tom of the home, 3 daughters, Linda Sue (Bright) Hardin, Eulalia Ann Bright, Mary Elisabeth (Bright) Chambers and husband Joe, one son, Richard Anthony Bright; five step-daughters, Jennifer Ruby, Laura Bartnick and husband Bill, Linda Larkins, Judy Larkins and Rhonda (Price) Rogers; one brother Lloyd A. Welch; one brother-in-law Larry Larkins and wife Lauralie; one step sister Marilyn Cook; 19 Grandchildren: Robert Hardin and wife Christina; Jenny (Hardin) Beam and husband William III; Justin Chambers; Evan Chambers; Braxton Bright; Brayden Bright; Shauna Mears; Austin Mears; Ashlee Burbach; Ranae Burbach; Michael Burnett; Vanessa (Ruby) Forse and husband Jonathan; Charissa Ruby; Jimmy Bartnick and wife Guida; Thomas Larkins; Sophia (Larkins/Quant) Jackson and husband Rob; Elliott Larkins/Quant; Donya Butler and husband Gabe; Kara Gist and husband Ryan; 12 great-grandchildren: Joshua Hardin; Jacob Hardin; Jayden Hardin; William (Beau) Beam IV; Kira Jo Beam; Tristan Jackson; Jack Jackson; Strickland Snead; Evie Snead; Kaden McPherson; Abbott McPherson; Luccia Bartnick.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers: Joseph Nelson Welch; William Allen Welch; Leroy Edwin Welch; Donald Coy Welch; one infant sister, Patricia Marybelle Welch. Four sisters-in-law: Jean Welch; Lila Welch; Joan Welch; Mary Gibbs, one step brother Carroll Eugene Cook and step sister, Betty Dorris.

Online Condolences may be made to www.gracememorialchapel.net