Obituary for Robert Whitlock

Robert O. Whitlock

(June 15, 1929 – September 27, 2015)

Robert O. "Bob" Whitlock was born in Ponca City, OK to Robert J. and Beryl Lavina Kemp Whitlock on June 15, 1929. He passed away September 27, 2015 in Tulsa, OK.

Bob grew up in Kaw City and Shidler where his family owned a furniture and funeral home founded originally by Grandfather Otho Whitlock. He attended School in Kaw City and Shidler, graduating in 1947 as Vice President of his class. He still holds the record as the only center on the football team that ran a touchdown. Always an entrepreneur, starting at an early age delivering newspapers morning and evening. At age 13, he drove a school bus due to the war shortage of drivers. He started selling cars in high school and, during his senior year, sold 21 cars.

He joined the army in 1947 and was stationed in Jacksonville, S.C., St. Louis, and Seattle Washington where he attended the University of Washington majoring in accounting. He returned to Shidler in 1950 and married Wilma Kephart who receded him in death in 1982. They had two daughters, Bobette and Cindy Jo.

The day Bobette was born in 1955, he signed the franchise papers and became the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the USA at age 25. He had dealerships in Shidler and Kaw City. In 1964, the family moved to Ponca City where he established a used car lot and in 1965 was approved as a Volkswagen dealer. He built a new building at 3415 N. 14th street, which was farm land at the time. He also had a Datsun/Nissan dealership. Later, he established a mobile sales lot, built two more commercial buildings on 14th street and two mobile home parks. He had an insurance agency and became a real estate broker in the early 80’s. Currently, Bob was a real estate broker and appraiser, Oklahoma Real Estate, Etc., and owner of North Country Park. He was also a farmer and rancher.

He and Frances Kay Anderson were married on April 2, 1983. They established residences in Ponca City and later in Zena, Oklahoma. He was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, Elks Lodge, American Legion, past director of Kaw City Museum, board of trustees at his church and was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a lifetime sportsman, and enjoyed many days of fishing on Grand Lake over the past 12 years. Bob also enjoyed gardening, especially raising heirloom tomatoes and was an avid OSU sports fan and supporter.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Kay, of the home, daughter, Bobette and husband Wayne Guddeck of Yukon and their children, Allison of Dallas, Wyatt and wife Shelby of Yukon, daughter, Cindy and her husband, Bill Russell of Ponca City, daughter of the heart, Julie and husband Matt Jarvis and their children, Justin, Johathan, and Jacob of Muldrow, brother of the heart, Larry (Kat) Anderson and wife Norman of Barnsdall, sisters-in-law, Aliene Potts of Collinsville and Melva Whitlock of Stillwater. He also leaves several nieces and nephews that were close to him and a host of dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Patsy Amaya, brother, Charles Whitlock, and an infant brother.

The family will be at the Ponca residence.

Bob will be available for viewing at Trout Funeral Home Tuesday and Wednesday, September 29th and 30th, until 8:00 p.m. A celebration of a life well lived will be at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, October 1, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Ponca City. There will be a private family burial at Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kaw City Historical Museum, the Opportunity Center, or First United Methodist Church.

Source: Trout Funeral Home