Obituary for Norma Buffalow

Norma Faye Buffalow

January 26, 1939 – October 25, 2021

Norma Faye (Bell) Buffalow was born in Blackwell, OK, on January 26, 1939. Continuing to live in Blackwell with her parents and three siblings until 1949, when the family purchased a farm five miles west of Tonkawa and moved there. She attended school in Blackwell, until they moved to Tonkawa, and she continued attending school in Tonkawa, until she graduated in 1957. Norma was the oldest of four siblings of Charles and Beulah Bell.

In August of 1955, she met the love of her life, Don Buffalow, and on November 19, 1955, they began a life together as man and wife. They were married in Ponca City, OK by John Beck. Norma continued her education until she graduated in 1957 from Tonkawa High School. After her graduation, Don and Norma moved to Long Beach, CA, where Don worked for Douglas Aircraft in Lakewood, CA, and Norma went to work for Long Beach Jewelers and the J. M. Arnoff Company. While in high school, she worked at C. R. Anthony’s and Rutherford Law Firm.

In 1964, Norma and Don returned to Billings, OK area, where Don pursued his love of farming and Norma gained employment with Continental Oil Company in Ponca City. She retired from Conoco on January 1, 1994, after 30 years of service. At the time of her retirement, Norma was a Senior Staff Title Analyst in the Real Property Administration Department. During her career with Conoco, she belonged to the Desk and Derrick Club for 20 years, serving in many capacities until the Ponca City Chapter disbanded. She served on the board of Directors for the Conoco Retiree Association. During that 9 year term, she held various offices.

Norma was well known for her love of helping others and she volunteered fro various organizations around the area. She was a member of the RSVP and she also served on the Board of the Kaw Lake Association. She enjoyed her time with the P.I.E. Program for Conoco with the Garfield School in Ponca City, and enjoyed volunteering to help organizations to obtain Grants from Conoco.

Norma attended the Church of Christ in Tonkawa, and greatly enjoyed her many years studying under the Explorers Bible Study held in Ponca City, each Wednesday morning during the school year. Another special time for Norma was having lunch with her special “Lunch Bunch” every Thursday for many, many years. She also attended a monthly luncheon with fellow retirees. She loved keeping in contact with her friends via these luncheons. Norma loved spending time watching the wild life, and had a special love for the beautiful Cardinals. Her favorite four-footed friends were the Black Labradors that she and Don had throughout their marriage. Her heart was broken many times when they crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

She also loved to travel and throughout her travels, she visited such places as Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, England, France, Nova Scotia, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and most of the US States. Some points like Alaska, she visited more than once. She also traveled with Don when he competition Bass fished throughout the USA. She considered these all special highlights of her life.

Norma is survived by her loving husband, Don Buffalow, her sister Phyllis Bell Smither and husband Phil of Krebs, OK, brother Phillip R. Bell, Sr. and wife Clarice of Tulsa, OK, nieces Pat Howard of Ponca City, Puala Ailey of Tonkawa, nephews Mark Van Blaricom of Canadian, OK, Dale Van Blaricom of Kiowa, OK, David Van Blaricom of Panama City, FL, Daniel Smith of Wichita, KS, Phillip Bell, Jr. of Arizona, and John Buffalow of Milam, TX. She is also survived by cousins and other members of the family.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Beulah Bell, brother Charles Donald (Donnie) Bell, Jr., brother-in-law Joe Buffalow, and in-laws J C and Clara Buffalow.

Donations can be made to the Tonkawa Animal Shelter, 110 E. NOC Drive, Tonkawa, OK 74653 or North Central Hospice in Ponca., 445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK 74601

Viewing will be Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 4-8 PM at Trout Funeral Home of Tonkawa. Norma’s service will be Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 10 AM at Church of Christ, 300 N Public St, Tonkawa, OK 74653. Burial will follow at IOOF in Tonkawa. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Tonkawa, 505 Thunderbird Rd, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

Source: Trout Funeral Home