Charles Thomas Denner

Charles Thomas Denner “Tom” was born April 25, 1933 to Mary and Joe Denner in Alva, Oklahoma. Tom attended his freshman year at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was subsequently elected president of his class. The next four years, he attended the University of Oklahoma. During that time Tom was elected Head Cheerleader, cheering Coach Bud Wilkins Sooners onto victory. He was also President of Delta Tau Delta and President of the Inter-Fraternity Council. He was awarded “Who’s Who” in American Colleges and Universities and was also selected “Big Man On Campus”, and enjoyed an active life in college. In his senior year, Tom met his future wife of 58 years, Nancy Evelyn Reeves.

Tom had been Battalion Commander in the Naval ROTC and after graduating OU with a Bachelor’s degree in history in 1956, he served two years active duty aboard the Battleship USS Wisconsin. While serving in the Navy as a Lt. Junior Grade, he and Nancy married in 1957 and lived in Bayonne, New Jersey until his discharge in 1957.

After the Navy, Tom and Nancy moved to Alva where he became active in the family owned business, Golden Krust Bakery, which his father established in 1929. Tom was very active in the Alva Presbyterian Church and he and his wife Nancy enjoyed singing in the choir. Tom was also president of the Alva Rotary Club.

Tom and Nancy were extremely blessed with four beautiful children; John Thomas, David William, Amy Elizabeth and Emily Joanna.

Tom relocated his family to Oklahoma City in 1967 after he arranged the sale of the bakery to Scrivener-Bogart of Oklahoma City who subsequently made Tom a Vice-President. Later he joined Four Seasons Nursing Centers which led him to numerous friends and associates in banking and real estate. Tom was eventually hired to lease the newly completed Liberty Bank Tower, and soon after he founded his own real estate company, “The Denner Company”, which he successfully operated until his retirement.

Tom loved the Presbyterian Church and during his lifelong membership served on many boards and councils. Along with his wife Nancy, he led the “couple’s class” at First Presbyterian for ten years. Tom also loved The Rotary Club and was honored to be elected president of Downtown Rotary Club 29. Of great importance to Tom was his 32 year association with Bill Wilson.

Tom was preceded in death by his older brother Dr. Lee Denner, his parents Joe & Mary Denner and daughter Emily. He is survived by his wife Nancy, son John, grandchildren Lanie, Leslie and Paul, son-in-law Jay and great grandson Wyatt, son David and daughter-in-law, Libby, grandchildren Anna and Salli, and daughter Amy and her husband Randy, sister Nancy McGowan and brother Nick Denner, his extended family, “The Ann Arbor Gang” and countless friends.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City with Interment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park. Visitation will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom’s honor to First Presbyterian Church.