James S. Wall

Jim was born and raised in Anadarko. He was the son of Sam and Flossie Wall. Jim was a life-long Oklahoman and was proud that his father came here upon statehood in a covered wagon.

He served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in the Artillery Group from 1953 – 1966.

Jim began his college studies at Oklahoma A&M in 1955, planning to be a veterinarian. He “came to his senses” and transferred to the University of Oklahoma the next year. He received a zoology degree from O.U. with a minor in chemistry. He worked as a chemist at the Wynnewood Refinery for a short period of time before beginning his study of medicine, which he completed with an OU degree in 1966. He then completed his internship at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. The next year he started his medical practice by going into partnership with Dr. Buffington. Jim was a hard worker and built the second largest family practice in the state. He practiced medicine for 40 years.

When Jim came to Norman, he was doctor number 13 at Norman Regional Hospital. He greatly enjoyed the close comradery within the then small medical community. In the early days, there were no emergency room doctors, so Jim often took emergency calls in the middle of the night. He also delivered over 2,000 babies. He became so well known to Norman Police from being stopped on emergency runs that over time he just “gave the wave” and was allowed to speed on by them. Admittedly, he sometimes even did this when he was running late for a movie or other activity and would proclaim “personal emergency” in a joking voice to his passengers.

Jim saw many advances in medical technology during his career. He enjoyed following these and marveled at the new abilities they gave him to help patients. This meant so much to him as what he valued the most about being a doctor was the friendships he was able to develop with his patients. He often said that the best medicine he could give them was to try and make sure they could leave his office with a smile. He proudly served on the OU Medical School Admissions Board, as well as a clinical instructor at the Medical School. He was a chief of staff at Norman Regional in the 1970s.

Jim enjoyed all sports, especially golf. He was blessed to play many of the finest courses in the world, including the great Scottish courses and his favorite Pebble Beach. He and his wife Deborah traveled in their RV upon retirement and hit the links as often as possible. He returned to his interest of bird carving in retirement. He had studied ornithology under Dr. George Sutton in 1960 and was encouraged by Dr. Sutton to continue his interest in bird carving since he showed talent for that as an undergraduate. He didn’t have much time to carve while practicing medicine, but made up for lost time by prolifically carving dozens of birds in retirement. He enjoyed OU football and basketball. He was “Coach Wall” to many boys as he coached his sons in basketball and baseball. Jim was a great coach whose teams won numerous city championships. He raised cattle for many years and also owned racehorses. He always loved spending time with his animals at his farm, especially the baby foals. Most anyone who knew him in recent years knew the light of his life besides his family was Holly, his Yorkie Terrier.

Dr. Wall married his wife, Deborah on July 15, 2005 in Kauai, Hawaii. He is survived by, his daughter Laura Seeberger and husband Mark, Son, Doug Wall and his wife Joanna, son Richard Wall and his wife Jocelyn, granddaughter Devin Ericksen and husband Eric, grandsons Max & Sam Zeller, grandsons Atticus and Quincy Wall, brother Bert Wall and his wife Marta, brother-in-law George Moen, and the mother of his children, Judy Wall.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Sam and Flossie Wall and his sister, Delores Moen.

Please make donations in lieu of flowers to the Second Chance Animal Sanctuary in Norman or to any other animal welfare charity.

Celebration of Life service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday December 4th, 2018 at Primrose Funeral Service Chapel, Norman.

Arrangements entrusted to Primrose Funeral Service, Norman, OK. Sign the online guestbook at www.primrosefuneralservice.com