Charles Melvin Whipple Jr.

“The idea is not to live forever, but to create something that will.” Charles M. Whipple, Jr., PhD, EdD, LitD, a learned and caring man who created well, died on the 30th day of March 2026. A gentleman and scholar in the very sense of the word, who strived to create a lasting legacy for his family was 87 years old. He left his world a better place than he found it.

Born July 11, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Charles and Julia Ledford Whipple, he earned a BS degree in the natural sciences from Southern Nazarene University in 1960, and married Gweneth Brown of Enid, Oklahoma later that year. The family moved to Houston, Texas where he taught high school natural science. Subsequent to graduating with a master’s degree from Phillips University in 1963, he worked at the Oklahoma State Reformatory at Granite where he conducted psychotherapy research with juvenile recidivists for a doctorate in psychology, which was received from the University of Oklahoma in 1968. He received a second earned doctorate in clinical pastoral psychology from Midwestern University and Seminary in 1973, and an honorary doctorate in literature from St. Timothy Seminary.

Dr. Whipple was ordained into the ministry of the National Association of Congregational Church in 1973, served as an assistant and interim minister for over 50 years, as well as an academic dean at Southwestern Christian College and Theological School. Among other professional and service organizations, he served as president of the Oklahoma City Church Council in 1976 and the Oklahoma Psychological Association in 1981. He was the recipient of numerous service awards, including a citation for being Oklahoma’s Most Distinguished Psychologist in 2003.

He was employed by the psychology department at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1969 where he taught for 35 years. During this time he wrote and had published over a dozen books for the academic and trade book market. He was the family’s genealogists, publishing four books that traced his Whipple roots to the 1632 Boston Capt. John Whipple, and to Sir Joseph Whipple, of Bedfordshire, England in 1450. His mother’s roots were traced to 1685 Lancaster, England. He was a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Dr. Whipple was a 32nd degree Mason, and member, officer, or founder of several fraternal and social organizations. He was co-founder of the Registry of Oklahoma City, a dinner-dance group that raises funds for fine arts and educational projects, the Oklahoma Chapter of the International Gourmet Food and Wine Society, the conductors circle of the Oklahoma City philharmonic, and president of the Oklahoma Opera League. He was an avid art collector, as well as student and lover of great music.

He is survived by his son Chris Whipple, daughter Michelle Deck, grandson Collyn Whipple, and great grandsons Robert and Joeseph Whipple. His siblings, all who survive include Jim, Paul, Judy Suhre, Debbie Miller. He is preceded in death by his brothers Johnny & Bobby, sister Kathie and grandson Skylar. He was the companion of four cats, Ninja, Mooch, Abbie, and Pooh, all who preceded him in death.