Obituary for Charlene Vap

Charlene Vap

February 1, 1938 – April 19, 2023

Charlene Dee Vap, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away at the age of 85 on April 19, 2023. She was born on February 1, 1938, along with her twin brother Charles, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, to Nathan C. Godberson and Ruby Walls Godberson. Charlene spent her childhood on her family’s farm northwest of Ponca City where she rode her horse bareback to Excelsior country school. Her faith in God began when she attended Prairie Chapel Church as a child.

After graduating from Ponca City High School in 1955, Charlene began working for Conoco Oil Company, where she met her lifelong best friend, Barbara Chrysty. They worked together operating integrators which measured the amount of gas that went through people’s pipelines. After two years at Conoco, she went on to attend Oklahoma State University where she received her Bachelors Degree in Mathematics which proved invaluable in managing the family farm’s finances.

Charlene met Jerry Vap on a blind date, and they were married on January 5, 1963, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ponca City. Charlene joined Jerry in the Catholic faith and remained a faithful member her whole life. They started farming east of Kildare and built a new home on top of a hill with a beautiful 360-degree view of the Kildare and Ponca City area. Charlene worked alongside Jerry, driving tractors and wheat trucks, planting a garden, cooking hot meals during wheat harvest time and basically never sitting still.

Charlene and Jerry had five children, who Charlene said were the greatest joys of her life. Throughout her life, Charlene cared for many people, including her father, whom she affectionately called “daddy,” her Aunt Maud and Uncle Al, her mother-in-law Lizzie, and countless others. She gave so much of herself to others and was truly selfless. Her faith and trust in God are what got her through the challenges that would come throughout her life. We would often see her dropping her head in prayer after her children made it home safely or when a much needed rain came.

Charlene was able to stay on the farm during her years of failing health until her passing thanks to her wonderful caregivers. Because mom was homebound, a dear friend, Barbara Roper, would faithfully bring Holy Communion each week, and letters, cards, and visits from family, friends, home health & hospice nurses kept mom’s spirits up during her time at home.

Charlene is survived by her five children and their spouses, Darla & Wade Wardlow, Yukon, OK, Dale & Kim Vap, Daryl & Julie Vap, Chris & Debi Vap, all of Ponca City, OK, Dana & Steve Pulley, Newkirk, OK. 17 grandchildren, Kelsi Gagnon (John), Kyle Wardlow (Brittany), Clint Wardlow (Elizabeth), Elizabeth Green (Tanner), Jerod Vap (Andi), Tanner Vap (Shaelyn), Bryce Vap (Kianie), Dylan Vap, Carson Vap (Harleigh), Landon Vap, Kaylyn Henderson (Rich), Connor Pulley (Paislee), Kyndal Bergman (Tanner), McKenna Pulley (Kyler), Kaydee Vap, Cody Vap (Hunter), Corey Vap (Kelsea) and 21 great-grandchildren, Jack, Max, Ford, Mae, Penelope, Ellis, Georgia, Frank, Maddox, Sawyer, Aliyana, Caellum, Paxton, Kru, Kip, Stevie, Aiden, Collins, Nolan, & Olivia. In addition she is also survived by her step-sister Kathie Armstrong of Ponca City, and Gail Saxon of Stillwater along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, brother, half-sister, Joy Marie Fair, half-brother Edmond Eaton, step-siblings, Bill, David and Joe Saxon, and Mary Saxon Freeman

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 1st, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ponca City, OK. Viewing will be from 12 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, April 30th, 2023 at Trout Funeral Home. Visitation with the family present will be from 4 pm-6 pm. Those unable to attend the Mass, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website www.troutfuneralhome.com. Click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 9:45 AM. Her final resting place will be at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery, Ponca City, OK.

In memory of our parents who both had Parkinson’s Disease, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Source: Trout Funeral Home