Obituary for Wesley Learned

Wesley William Learned – Veteran

(June 26, 1939 – March 19, 2016)

Wesley William Learned, 79, of Billings, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2016, in Hillcrest Manor in Blackwell where he had been residing since last November due to his advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

Wesley was born on June 26, 1936, in Stafford, Kansas, to Wilmer H. and Vivian E. (Hendershot) Learned. He was raised on a farm near Zenith, Kansas, and graduated high school from Stafford, Kansas. Following high school, he entered the United States Army and was stationed in Germany in 1956. While in the military he served as a paratrooper and played in the Army band, traveling to different areas to perform. He and his friend spent much of their free time traveling all over Europe on his motorcycle, causing all sorts of trouble no doubt.

He met the love of his life, Eileen Zimmerman, when she and her family came to visit his father’s iris garden. He began following her around, trying to get her attention on that visit and apparently didn’t give up until she agreed to marry him a few years later. On August 13, 1957, they were married in Sterling, Kansas, and enjoyed over fifty eight years of marriage, six children, twelve grandchildren and a great granddaughter. Family was important to Wesley as he assisted them in their various activities including athletics, F.F.A., 4-H., school plays and other extra-curricular activities. He was always there to cheer at their games, getting animals ready for stock shows and taking time off to show his support. He also served on the Billings School Board during his children’s years.

Wesley graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Math Education from Oklahoma State University and subsequently obtained his Master’s Degree in the Art of Teaching from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He began his teaching career in the Blackwell Public Schools in 1970, teaching math in the junior high and later math and computer science in the high school for twenty-one and a half years. During this time he also taught computer science classes at Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa. After retiring from Blackwell Public Schools, he taught one year in Harlingen, Texas, and then thirteen years for Wichita Public Schools, retiring in 2005. Teaching was his passion. He truly believed that everyone had great potential and if he could help unlock that potential then he had succeeded in his task. Much time was spent grading papers to the music of Herb Albert and The Tijuana Brass Band, making lesson plans and spending extra time with students. He was famous for his loud and outlandish ties he wore that added a sense of fun and frivolity to the classroom. He never gave tests, only “learning experiences.” He had many other jobs in his life, including working as a welder in Kansas, a grader for the county, a volunteer fireman, a volunteer police officer and a farmer. Even as his Alzheimer’s disease progressed, he was constantly looking for ways he could assist other people.

Wesley was an active member of the Billings United Methodist Church where he loved music, led the congregational singing and sang for special events. He was a Christian who lived his life as an example of Jesus Christ. Even during harvest, Sunday was a day of rest, set aside for attending church and family activities. When traveling on vacation, if it was Sunday, the family would locate a nearby church to attend and commune with fellow Christians. When his children were in school, Sunday afternoons were often spent playing basketball at the community building where he amazed them with his half-court underhanded shot, playing baseball in the yard or fishing in the pond.

He loved cars, trucks and motorcycles, purchasing his first car when he was only eight years old. He enjoyed mechanic work and could fix practically anything. He was an avid gardener, planting a large garden each spring which would produce fruits and vegetables all summer. He always wanted to fly so after having all his children, he obtained his pilot’s license. On Sunday afternoons he would rent a plane and take the family flying letting his children serve as co-pilots and taking their turn to “fly.” He also loved to camp and fish, taking annual family vacations to Colorado to enjoy both. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America and worked with his sons’ troops as they grew up. He loved music and played several instruments, including the guitar, drums, tuba and trumpet among others. He also held a passion for woodworking and created an entire wooden army set for his kids for Christmas. When asked by one of his children what he would change in his life if he could; he replied that he wouldn’t change a thing. He felt he had been blessed with all the desires he had as a child – a farmer, a teacher, a pilot, an army man, a police officer and a fireman. He also said he had been fortunate to marry the right woman and have six great kids.

Never meeting a stranger, he loved to tell stories, have conversations with people and offer assistance to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen of Billings; two daughters, Sherilyn O’Dell (Stephen) of Anaheim Hills, California, and Lovella Kennedy of Wiggins, Colorado; four sons, Lewain Learned (Aimie) of Billings, Alan Learned (Sandra) of Powhatan, Virginia, Laren Learned of Spring Lake, North Carolina, and Merryl Learned of Byers, Colorado; a sister, Edith Ann Wong of Crescent Valley, Nevada; a brother, Charles Learned (Fay) of Bella Vista, Arkansas; eleven grandchildren, Colt, Sadie, Katie, Greg (Chelsea) and wife Chelsea, Christine, Raymond, Laren (Shamekia), Maverick, Megean, Cole and Scott; and a great granddaughter, Remini.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Arthur Learned; and a grandson, Allen Farmer.

Services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 22nd in the Billings United Methodist Church with Rev. Ruth Tipps officiating. Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery in Billings with military rites performed by the United States Army.

Casketbearers will be his children. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Delbert Foltz, Robert Hartz, Dale Herde, Danny Ketts, Willis Krout and Russell Sharp.

Memorials have been established in his honor with the Billings United Methodist Church and the Renfrow Miller Museum in Billings in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.