CHAPTER VI

Wesley Ambassadors

The Christian practices of Wesleyites originated in their souls and minds. The specific practices of proclaiming the Gospel, studying the scriptures for self-improvement and dedicated living, have been the facets of assistance to the world parish. The real and only effect takes place when the individual puts a piece of his or her life, his or her time, and his or her income on the line.
Since 1910 the membership of Wesley has had thousands of names. Many have moved, many have died and were buried by the respective pastors of Wesley. Fortunately many are living today.
Every member, be he or she a child, every man and woman, be he or she a laborer or a housekeeper, has been and is of equal importance. Neither existing records nor required space in the 65-year history are forthcoming to print all these names.
Every member performed with his or her own thrust. A few have enjoyed challenges of certain leadership. Others worked for institutions where daily leadership was exercised. The members mentioned in this part of the history are those who have contributed or are contributing beyond their spheres of ordinary life styles.
These parishioners made contributions to Oklahoma City and the world while they carried on a business livelihood. The lists are non-inclusive.

Service Roll
World War I

A survey among the present membership reveals that these men participated in World War I.
Charles H. Carleton
Benjamin Dallas
J.Guy Fuller
William Griggs
Harold “Salty” Gunn
Jess Hoke
Win. C. Hunter
Hobart M. Keesamen
T. J. Lucado
Bill Maxon
Dr. Earl McBride
Dave R. McKown
Ralph V. Miller
Guy R. Mills
Elmer Melott
Dewey H. Neal
Robert Nelson
Cliff Payton
Orange Putney
C.Clyde Reneau
Dewey A. Ruedy
Elmer Steanson
Alex Tussey
Watson P. Dollard
Martin H. Werner
Ben H. White
Chester L. Walker
Floyd Yarbo

World War II

This length combined list found in Wesley's Directories of 1943-1945, plus a survey of those men and women who participated in World War II who lived elsewhere during this period:
John E. Adams
Emery O. Aikens
Ralph E. Alden
Raymond Tracy Alden
R.B. Allbaugh
D.Pope Almon
W.B. Tick” Auxier
E.E. Baade
John H. Baade
Russell Baker
Woodrow W. Baker
Woodrow W. Baker
J.E. Barker Jr.
R.E. Barnes
George Barnett
R.F. Basore
R.R. Basore
Jack Bass
Paul B. Bell
Lee K. Bell
Gene C. Berrier
H.J. Birdwell, Jr.
Robert P. Bixler
Ralph V. Blakeley
T.N. Blankenship
B.E. Blankenship
Dr. Lloyd C. Boatright
Lloyd C. Boatright Jr.
Peter Louis Boatright
Bob Boulware
George S. Bozalis
Joe Bradley
Everett Bradshaw
B.J. Brann
Richard C. Brann
Win. V. Brann
Bart Bretz
Lloyd D. Bross
Clarence Bruster
Max Bruton
James Bruton
Andrew D. Bryant
John Burt
Win. S. Burt
Gladys E. Campbell
James R. Campbell
Darrel Canfield
Charles H. Carleton Jr.
Douglas J. Carleton
Marvin Carleton
Russel Caston
Leslie Chaffin Jr.
W.R. Cheatwood
Francis N. Cobb
Robert H. Coffey
Donald D. Coit
Milton K. Coit
Raymond H. Coit
Ronald Coit
Earl Cole
Frank M. Collins
Robert M. Collins
Edward M. Coon
Lewis Hulbert Coon
Kenneth Cox
A.E. Culmer Jr.
Albert Curtis
*Wm. Clyde Curtis Jr.
Effie V. Custes
Frank J. Dallas
Delbert H. Dean
Albert N. Dearing
E.P. DeKalb
James Demaret
William Devin
W.T. Dickinson
Robert L. Dickinson
W.T. Dickinson
Stanley Dieffenderfer
Harold E. Ditzler
John Dobkins
Harold A. Doty
Raymond Doty
David R. Douglass
Dr. F. D. Duff
Paul C. Duncan
Harold 0. Ebeling
Clair A. Eckert
Donald Edwards
W.H. Evans
Ann Fannin
Pat Fannin
Clifford Farmer
Elliott Fenton
John F. Fesler
Harold B. Fesler
Marion A. Flesher
Maurice C. Foster
Charles E. Franklin
Guy Wesley Fuller
Jack D. Gant
Walter C. Gant
Otto D. Gates
William Geary
Murray E. Gibbens
Everette E. Gibbens
James C. Gibbens
Richard E. Gibbens
Win. N. Gibbens
Charles Gibson
Hal Gibson
Robert A. Gibson
James P. Gilligan
Tom Gleason Jr.
W.S. Gleason
Walter A. Glenn
James E. Grady
Robert A. Grubb
William A. Grubb
W.T. Hale
Frank Hamilton
James Hamilton
Robert B. Hamilton
Win. L. Hampton
Hollis Haney
James A. Haney Jr
* Earl Harkey
John J. Hart
Bill Hartronft
Charles T. Hawkins
Stanley C. Hayes
Kieth Hefley
John R. Hendricks
* Wayne Hendricks
Vic Heldenbrand
T.G. Hilborne
Noel Highfill
Forest K. Hill
Shelby Hill
Earl D. Hiller
Bill Hinton
Lowell S. D. Hodges
Tom Hoke
Charles M. Holt
F.R. Holt
Larry Holt
Jack Hood
J.D. Hoover
Donald L. Hughart
* Adrian Hunter
Frank Hunter
W.C. Hunter Jr.
Win. K. Jshmael
Frank Jackson
R.0. Jackson
George E. Jennings
John C. Jennings
John E. Johnston
John E. Kelley
Paul J. Kelley
Avery C. Kessey
Charles E. Kendall
Win. Randall Kincaid
James Marvin Kincaid
Earl W. Kitchen
Richard M. Kitchen
Phillip B. Klein
R.V. Knepper
Edward Knoepfel
John Knoepfel
Marvin Kraettli
Barnard C. Kruel
Claude C. Lear
LeRoy L. Lette
R.E. Leverich
Moses E. Lewis
Win. B. Lightfoot
H.J. Lightfoot
Jesse Light
B.L. Lockridge
Thornton J. Lucado Jr.
Dan E. Lundien
Robert Lynch
Gifford McBride Jr.
Forest M. McClain
Arthur M. McClelland
John McConnell
Win. George McCreight
* Ralph McEwen
Ben McGoodwin
E.M. McMillan
Lee McReynolds
Richard W. Manlove
Marvin Margo
Paul Mead
Wayne Massey
Harold Merriman
Clifford M. Michaelis
R.Bruce Miller
Evelyn Miller
Kelsey E. Miller
Russel D. Miller
Russel V. Miller
L.W. Miller
R.C. Moors
Joe V. Morey
Gilbert S. Morton
Richard Morton
Albert Myers
Donald Win. Myers
Edward J. Neff
George Harold Neff
Virgil E. Nelson
Warren J. Newberry
Doyle C. Nichols
J.Doyle Nicholson
John Noftsger
Ash B. Norris Jr.
John Norris
Charles T. Obermann
Fred Y. Osborne
Lyle W. Ozinun
D.B. Pack
Bruce Palmer
James E. Pate
Jack Perry
Harold J. Peterson
J.M. Philpott
J.Edwin Polk
* Leland A. Pope
M.E. Pope
Jack W. Potts
Patty Selders Price
John W. Proginore
Bill Pullen
James Patrick Pulliam
Clovis Putney
Harrison Purdy
Millard S. Purdy
Stanley Temple Purdy
Albert W. Ramsey
Robert G. Ramsey
Ernest E. Rapp
L.M. Rauch Jr.
Clyde Wayne Reneau
James I. Renfrow
Robert R. Renfrow Jr.
Roy Renfrow
Charles R. Reynolds
W.W. Reynolds
John Richards
Roger J. Rickey
Carl C. Ridley
D.Morgan Roberts
W.Y. Roberts
James T. Roberts
O'Neil Roberts
Pat D. Roberts
* Ralph Rowland
Richard Rowland
Ralph W. Rucker
Truman B. Rucker
Clayton Russell
John Russell
Harold A. Rust
Edward Rutledge
Frank 0. Ryan
Jack Saggaser
J.B. Sanders
Stanley S. Sandler
Kenneth E. Saxon
F.M. Setzer
William Scott
George B. Schultz
R.M. Shultz
* Donald Sikes
John A. Simpson
R.L. Sitzman
Dale Smith
Gerald L. Smith
Henry Smith
Virgil L. Smith
Oscar D. Stiles
Charles W. Stockton
Spencer L. Stockwell
Frank Stockwell
Evert Stong
Harry R. Stong Jr.
W.C. Sutton
Mary M. Talbot
Richard C. Talbot
Jack Taylor
Melvin E. Taylor
B.F. Thacker
Wilson Thedford
Daniel P. Thompson
Leslie P. Thompson
James S. Thompson
Otis L. Thompson
R.H. Thompson
Theodore W. Thompson
Richard Thorne
Morris S. Todd
Donald S. Thornton
Jack Lund Tolle
Gilbert H. Tuepker
Bill L. Turner
James R. Wade
Louise Walbert
C.A. Walker
Klein C. Walker
G.W. Walker
Hugh Wallace
John Wallace
Ralph E. Warner
C.D. Watson
Anthony Webster
Hugh N. West Jr.
Miles Westfall
Wallace Westervelt
Robert Wheeler
W.S. Wetzel
E.G. Whisnand
Jack White
James A. White
John L. White
Joe A. White
Win. H. White
F.E. Whittaker
Dolphus Whitten Jr.
Mack 0. Williams
Win. J. Winkler
Oris 0. Wolfe
Jack R. Woodward
Spencer Wyatt
John Yost
Alfred C. Zedlitz
P.H. Ziel

These We Do Not Forget "In Memoriam” World War II

R.B. Allbaugh, son of Mrs. Alta Allbaugh
Win. C. Curtis Jr., son of Mr. & Mrs. Win. C. Curtis
Wayne Hendricks, son of Anna Bell Hendricks
Adrian Hunter, son of Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Hunter
Ralph McEwen, son of Mr. & Mrs. J. A. McEwen
Leland A. Pope, son of Mrs. E. G. Whisnand
Ralph Rowland, son of Mrs. Charles T. Rowland
Donald W. Sikes, son of Mrs. Neva Sikes
Wilson Thedford, husband of Mrs. Alegra (Wyatt) Thedford

Certificate of Gratitude

On May 17, 1948, Dominavor P. Oliva, President of the Philippines, issued a Certificate of Gratitude to Wesley Methodist Church. The document is presented in grateful acknowledgement of and deep appreciation for the many little and big things Wesleyites did for the First Philippine Aviation Trainees Program.

Korean War

The survey reveals that these men and women served the United States during this period:
Lloyd D. Bross
George McKown
Jerry Lee Bell
Jess Matheny Jr.
Thomas E. Dutton
R. C. Moore
William Nelson Griggs
Dan R. Potts
David D. Potts
Bill Hartronft
Richard T. Hamilton
Gerald Hornung II
Frank Hunter
John E. Kelley
Robert E. Kruta
John N. Lansing
Eddie L. Maimbourg
Ben McGoodwin

Viet Nam

Richard T. Hamilton
Ralph E. Hiller
Jim Lewis
Eddie L. Maimbourg
Bob Ramsey
Raymond C. Reier
R.L. Sitzinan
Henry Smith
John Westervelt
Jack White
Bill White
Raymond C. Reier
David D. Williamson
Bill White
Ross White

Service Since and Between Wars

Jack Adair
Lee Cocklin
Charles L. Maimbourg
Richard McKown
Robert McKown
Jim Rice

WESLEY — OCU RELATIONS
Wesley Members on OCU Faculty

Clinton M. Allen
M. J. Binford
Dr. Nathan Boggs
Frank G. Brooks
Dr. Clarence Burg
*E. G. Green
Clifton Grossman
Harry H. Houser
D.M. Hart
J.C. Hoover
Leona Dale Hulet
John Lansing
Fred C. Mayer
Lena Misener
Frances McCalister
Wayde McCalister
Theron McGee
Nellie Melton
James Neilsen
B.F. Nihart
Oscar Lee Owens
T.F. Pierce
Acton Porter
Milton Prop
Campbell Russell
George Ryden
Mary Louise Simpson
Carrie Lee Snipes
Carl Skinner
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Soule
Lena Smith
F.L. Tibbitts
Joe B. Thoburn Norton Wey
* Dolphus Whitten Jr.
* A. G. Williamson
* Jack Wilkes

*President

Wesleyites Assisting OCU

Dr. James W. Baker (21) served the Methodist Church as a trustee while he was a preacher and district superintendent in Oklahoma; He was later a member of Wesley.
Legend has M. M. Gibbens voluntarily serving as the secretary of the OCU Trustees for many years.
C. S. McCreight (15) and E. R. Stockwell were faithful trustees for many years.
In 1947 Myron Horton (10) was awarded an honorary degree by OCU for his faithful service on the Board of Trustees.
Win. (Bill) Harrison (3) is a member of the Trustees Advisory Committee on Finance. He also assists the subcommittee on gifts and grants.

Writers About Wesley Lifestyle

Mrs. A. H. Tyler — Historical Sketch in Program of Dedicatory Services of Wesley Methodist Church, May 20-25,1921.
C.S. McCreight — Brief History of Wesley Methodist Church in Sunday Bulletin, December 28, 1947.
Hazel (Mrs. Gerald) Hornung — Our Church's Heritage in 4 articles dated August-September,'~1956; one article in 12/30/60, and 4 articles in November and December 1970 and December 4, 1970 Wesley Church papers.
Dewey H. Neal — Wesley's History Saga of Faith and Work — Sunday Bulletin, January 1, 1961.
Mary Elizabeth Thigpen in 1965 wrote a condensed history of Wesley Methodist Church.
Hazel (Mrs. Gerald Hornung wrote a chapter entitled “The Heritage of Wesley — Saga of Faith and Work” for the North Oklahoma City District history of UMC dated August 11, 1975. This chapter is to be Wesley's contribution to the history of North Oklahoma City District's history when the history is published.

Some Wesleyites with Literary Interests

Joseph B. Thoburn, et. al., wrote a 6-volume history of Oklahoma. He was called “Dean of Historians of Oklahoma.” Co-author was I. M. Holcomb.
Dr. James W. Baker, retired Minister and Church Administrator, wrote “Jesus, the Living Way to a Living God” — published by OCU Press, 1938.
Marian (Kapp) Hurst (Mrs. Irvin Hurst) wrote “The 1-2-3 of Homemaking.” — Prentice Hall — 1946, and “Household Employees Handbook” — Dewing Publishing Company, 1939.
Dr. C. 0. Epley wrote “My Life as a Physician."
Dr. Earl McBride wrote “History of Crippled Childrens' Society of Oklahoma.”
John Embry, at age 80, wrote book published in 1952 called “The Namic Philosophy.”
Mrs. W. J. Cowgill was best known for her history stories with her poetry.
David R. McKown has written “David Ross McKown in Retrospect” and “The Dean” (Life story of Julian C. Monnet). His monthly newsletters about travel and olio reach approximately 1,200 potential readers.
N. L. George authored five textbooks and more than 60 magazine articles in the field of educational administration.
Thomas F. Pierce has poems of “My Life and Handshake” in the Two-in-One UMC Class History.

Unique Services

Happy Birthday Caller — For years, J. M. Dial telephoned many members of Wesley Church on their respective birthdays. He had 1,200 names on his list.
Purse Maker — J. J. Edwards for many years handed members of UMC church small coin purses which he personally made. He also gave the purses to the patients of Crippled Children's Hospital.
Volunteer Guide — J. Guy Fuller has voluntarily served as guide at the Oklahoma Historical Society since 1970.
Juanita Taylor has served 25 years on escort duty at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City. The Red Cross presented her a pin for this volunteer service. The total volunteer hours has amassed to more than 5,000.

Local

Elsie and J. W. Blakeley gave and constructed a 16 person accommodation cottage at Canyon Camp, Hinton, Oklahoma.
Gerald Hornung II served as president of MYF in the West Oklahoma Conference during 1945-46 and 1948-49.
Marie (Mrs. Dolphus Jr.) Whitten, President of WSCS of Oklahoma Conference, 1968-70.
Barbara Thom, Vice-President of WSCA, 1968-70. Dewey H. Neal was honored as OKC's most outstanding layman by the Oklahoma City Council of churches in 1947. Dewey served the Oklahoma City Council of Churches as Chairman of Committee on Public Relations for many years.
Dewey H. Neal served the West Oklahoma Conference as a member of the World Service and Finance Commission in 1970, as a member of the Mission and Church Extension and was sent to Minneapolis to attend National Conference of Methodist Men in 1955.
Gerald K. Hornung Sr. served as president of the Oklahoma City Council of Churches in 1950 when they were rated one of the “Top Ten” Councils in the United States.
Myron Horton served as president of the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma U.M. Foundation for many years.
Elliott Fenton was a member for seven years of the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma U. M. Foundation and served four years as vice-president.

National Methodist Honors

Dewey H. Neal was listed in “Who's Who in Methodism” in 1952.
Dolphus Whitten Jr.: Delegate, General Conference UMC — 1968, 1970, 1972; Member, General Council on Ministries — Chairman of Unit on Communicative Policies; Member, Board of Education and Ministry and Council of Ministries; Member, Board of Trustees, St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri.

Wesleyites and Civic Responsibilities

Civic List — Served Oklahoma City Public Schools — School Board, District I-89
Dave R. McKown — 1939-1944
John C. Pearson Jr. — 1946-53
Mrs. L. D. Melton — 1953-1960
County — Guy Ed Fuller Sr. served Oklahoma County Excise Board 22 years.
City — Campbell Russell was elected most useful citizen by Oklahoma City Times in 1924.
Win. (Bill) Harrison has been member Urban Renewal Authority for 12 years.
Irvin Hurst spent 15 years as secretary Capitol Improvement and Zoning Commissioner.
State — George Camp serves in Oklahoma Legislature.
Gilbert Robinson served as 1962 president of Oklahoma Education Association.
A. K. Mackey was Show Manager for the Oklahoma 4-H and FFA for many years. He was featured in Oklahoma Fariner-Stockinan in March, 1963.