William Vernon York, 87, died April 28, 2019 in Oklahoma City, OK. Bill was born July 22, 1931 in Mountain View, Oklahoma to Everett York and Era Roxie Willis York. Bill graduated high school in Roff, OK as Valedictorian of his class in May 1949. He went on to study at East Central in 1949 to 1950, and was in the Army National Reserves before he mobilized to Camp Polk, LA. Bill was a Korean War veteran who served his Country between 1950 to 1952 with the 45th Infantry and the 171st Field Artillery as a supply Sergeant, Sergeant York. Bill married Geleeta Kirk his last year of college and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelors Geology Degree.
After graduating they moved to Fort Smith, AR where Bill worked for Carter Oil in Fort Smith, AR for 2 years, and then moved to Shawnee, OK to work for Humble Petroleum, which later changed to Exxon. He transferred to Enid, Oklahoma for 3 years, then to Amarillo, TX and back to Oklahoma City, and continued to work for Humble Petroleum for a total of 17 years. In 1972 Bill began to work for Arnold Oil and retired from there in 1996. Bill continued to visit his office for many years and brought doughnuts to his former co-workers.
Bill was an avid vintage car collector and like to restore vehicles. He and other friends started the Central Oklahoma Jaguar Association of which he was a member, along with various other car clubs.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters, Jessie Earl York, Dora Alice Daiker, Nova Dimples Ivy, Dorothy Carmen Etchison.
Bill is survived by his wife of 64 years, Geleeta York, daughter and son-in-law, Missy Tomlinson and Chris Tomlinson, grandson, Cory Tomlinson, his brother and sister-in-law Raymond Peyton and Yvonne Jo York, and many nieces and nephews.
Bill was a member of AAPG, American Association of Petroleum Geologist and has requested in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Oklahoma Geological Fund, or to Oklahoma State University Geological Scholarship Fund.
Burial will take place at Resthaven in south Oklahoma City, OK on May 3, 2019 at 12:30 P.M., with a Memorial Service at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper in Oklahoma City, OK at 2:00 P.M. Closed casket viewing will take place on Thursday, May 2, 2019, from 8:00 A.M.– 8:00 P.M. with Family Viewing between 6:00 P.M.– 8:00 P.M.
