Elmer Thurman Valentine

Today, friends and family are mourning the loss of Elmer Valentine. Elmer was a fixture in Downtown OKC for over 60 years. In 1945, Elmer started working as an Elevator Operator for the Colcord Building. He was the last licensed Elevator Operator in Oklahoma when he retired in 2006.

Valentine was known for his positive attitude and smile by employees and thousands of guests of the Colcord Building. He referred to the elevator as his “vertical taxicab” and proudly boasted about the importance of making sure he got his passengers safely to their floor of the historic building.

At age 17, Elmer went to work at the Colcord Building as an elevator operator making 40 cents an hour and was issued his very first suit with the Colcord insignia. After 60 years of service at the same building, he retired and laughingly told people that he would just start taking, “two six-month vacations per year. “ Friends say that he kept track of how many miles he went on the Colcord elevators and said that he’d, “been around the world a time or two…in those elevators.” Elmer is survived: by his brother Lawrence Valentine; many nieces and nephews; and great niece Brandy. Elmer is preceded in death by: his parents Dave and Della Valentine; two brothers and his twin sister. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at Sunny Lane Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 31, 2016 at Sunny Lane Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Sunny Lane Cemetery.