Obituary for Betty Throop

Betty J. Throop

March 10, 1923 – May 5, 2018

Betty June Throop went to her Heavenly home on Saturday, May 5, 2018, following a lengthy illness. She was 95 years old. Graveside rites will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Longwood Cemetery with Reverend Robert Montgomery officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Betty was born on March 10, 1923 in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of Orval and Pauline Cornelison. They later moved to Commerce, Oklahoma where she met her high school sweetheart, James G. (Jim) Throop. They were married in Commerce in 1942. Three children were born to this union, two sons, Ralph and Tom, and one daughter, Judith.
Jim moved to Ponca City in the spring of 1960, establishing Evans & Throop Company. The family followed later that year. The family sold their interest in the company to Jerry Evans in 1972 and purchased what was to become the Throop Rock Bit Company in Tonkawa. In 1976, they purchased the George Self Propane Company, now known as Throop Propane, and in 1981, established Throop Construction Company.

In addition to these business ventures, Jim and Betty also raised cattle. Jim would come home for lunch and some days Betty would greet him with a picnic basket which was eaten after a walk out to the pasture. Often, there would be one smart cow who would cross the cattle guard into their yard. Betty always let it eat some ‘good grass’ before shooing her back into the pasture.

Betty was, first and foremost, a loving wife and mother. She was also an avid Ponca Citian and was a very active participant in community affairs, including the Arts & Humanities Council. She was a major benefactor for the Arts Adventure for a number of years, and was recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award, presented to her by Gov. David Walters in 1993.
As a member of Ponca City Federate Music Club, she could be found at each and every concert. She financially assisted a large number of Ponca City youth in their music endeavors.

Betty was an ‘idea person’ and could always be counted on to come up with something fun to do – whether it be a family vacation or with her many friends, including her Birthday Theme group. Many times the Birthday group would go someplace – either in Ponca City or out of town – dressed in costume. She earned the nickname ‘be prepared’ when an unintentionally packed phone book fell out of her luggage on a Florida Trip!
Yes, she had fun.

Betty enjoyed traveling – especially when the entire family would go. An especially fun trip was with all the family to Osage Beach, Mo. Besides the boating and jet skiing, there were games and cards going into the night.

In 1974, she and Jim built their dream house on 160 acres, east of Ponca City. The top story of the multi-level home was hers. Friends and family referred to it as being her ‘Tree House’ as it looked out over the country-side. She spent her time in this room working on her hobbies of painting and crafts.

The Throop home was a gathering place for friends and family- always open for a party. Birthdays found grandchildren and their friends breaking the pinatas found hanging from tree branches. Easter egg hunts were held annually for the young people. And Christmas! Even Santa Claus found the Throop home, visiting with the youngsters each year.

As a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Betty sang in the choir and many times, could be observed looking out at the congregation, shooting eye darts at husband Jim, asleep in his pew.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orval and Pauline Cornelison, her husband, Jim Throop and her daughter, Judy Jones.

Survivors include her sons, Ralph and wife Judy, Tom and wife Leslie, of Ponca City; grandchildren, Wendi Tejada and husband Juan of Oklahoma City, James (J.J.) Jones and wife Sally, of Keller, TX, Heather Throop, Amber Orr and husband Casey, all of Ponca City, Chance Throop and wife Melissa of Tulsa, Kara Plito of Hudson, NY, and Anna Richardson and husband Paul of Owasso. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren, Gracie and Jackson Orr of Ponca City, Hayden and Grayson Throop of Tulsa, Oliver Richardson of Owasso, Thomas and William Polito of Hudson, NY, Mateo and Jude Tejada of Oklahoma City, and Ethan and Noah Jones of Keller, TX.

Memorials have been established with Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave., Ponca City, OK 74601 and First Presbyterian Church, 1505 E. Grand Ave., Ponca City, OK 74604.

Many times Betty was heard saying- “Looking back at my life, I wouldn’t change a thing”.

Source: Trout Funeral Home