Mr. Robert Paul Willingham

TAHLEQUAH, OK- Funeral services for Robert Paul “Bob”Willingham will be held on Thursday, September16, 2010 at 10:30AM at the Reed~Culver Funeral Chapel with Pastor Dr. Dan Eischen of First United Methodist Church of Wetumka officiating. Interment will follow at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery with Naval Honors at 1:00 PM at Ft. Gibson, OK.

Pall bearers for Bob include Virgil Williamson, Vernon Williamson, Lonnie Copelin, James Mankiller, Jake Mankiller, and Tom Patterson. Honorary pallbearers include Brent Kepler, John Kepler, Sgt. Charles Schuknecht, Lt. Chris Kepler, and Chris England.

Robert “Bob” Willingham was born the son of Don and Maude (Petross) Willingham in Fairview, a little community near Holdenville. He joined the call to serve his country during WWII and was enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served honorably from 1942 until his honorable discharge in 1953, as an Aviation Machinist Mate 3 Class. During the war, he met and married Dorothy Bridgewater in Holdenville, OK. This marriage was blessed with three children, Louise, Mary, and Steve. Following the war, Bob continued working in the job he loved, aviation. He was an aircraft mechanic for Spartan Aviation in Tulsa. He also owned and operated Highlander Laundromat in Tahlequah until he sold the Laundromat four years ago. Bob had a work ethic that kept him constantly at his job. He loved the many friends he made and was outgoing and a true friend to many. He enjoyed the occasional hunting and fishing trip, and was happiest spending time with his children and grandchildren. His first wife Dorothy passed away in 1990. Bob later married his sweetheart, Frances K. (Mankiller) Williamson at Rocky Mountain on September 9, 2001. They enjoyed their retirement together traveling and enjoying each others company. A Christian by faith, Bob was a member of the First United Church of Wetumka, where he enjoyed hearing his son-in-law preach. On Monday, September 13, 2010, the Lord called Bob to his eternal home at the Muskogee VA Hospital with his family at his side. He was 86 years old. Bob will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Those preceding Bob in death include his parents, and five brothers, Hubert, Ernest, Dale, Dauris, and Glenn.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife Frances of the home. His three children include Louise Foler of Bartlesville, OK, Mary Eischen and husband Dr. Dan Eischen of Kenwood, OK, and son Steve Willingham and wife Debbie of Collinsville, OK. His sisters and brother include Juanita New of Grass Valley, CA, Wynona Marshall of Sacramento, CA, and Wayne Willingham and wife Mona of Vacaville, CA. Bob’s legacy lives on in his eight grandchildren, Chris Kepler, John Kepler, Brent Kepler, Robin Patterson and husband Tom , Sarah England and husband Chris, Charles Schuknecht and wife Becki, Crystal Abair and husband Roy, and Erika Willingham, eleven great grandchildren, eight step grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.

The family will receive guests on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Reed~Culver Funeral Home during visitation.