William I. “Bill” Burdge

William I. “Bill” Burdge of Beaver, Oklahoma, s urrounded by his loving family, entered his heavenly home the morning of October 16, 2015, in Oklahoma City at the age of 77 years

Bill was born February 10, 1938, the oldest child of William Albert and Iva Burdge. He spent his childhood and youth on the family farm north of Hooker. He began his education in a small country school near his home, and later transferred to the school system in Hooker where he graduated in 1956. He served in the Army and later attended the University of Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma State University before returning home to join his father in the farming business. This enterprise included a registered Hampshire hog herd which he operated with his two sons for a number of years.

In 1961 Bill Burdge married Carol Voiles. To this union, three children were born, Michael William, John Timothy, and Stephanie Carol. Bill and Carol divorced and Bill later married Phyllis Oehme. For many years Bill and Phyllis served as the local Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, greeting children in Santa’s Workshop on Main Street in Hooker and visiting area nursing homes and homebound families during the Christmas season. They later divorced. While doing one of his favorite activities, dancing, Bill met the love of his life, Olene Hale of Beaver, Oklahoma. They married in 2007 and enjoyed many happy years dancing together. Bill and Olene made their home in Beaver until his death.

Bill and Olene had the opportunity to take some wonderful trips together before his health began to fail. Additionally, they spent as much time as they could with the children and grandchildren. Bill became semi-technically savvy with his android phone, learning how to use Bluetooth, text, group text, and video conference in order to keep up with all the activities of his large family. However, when he wanted to order something online, he would call one of the kids to do it. This is a good thing, because Bill was an avid collector over the years and it would have been a dangerous thing had he mastered Ebay!

Bill had a servant’s heart, and showed this Christian spirit in many ways. He was there when a friend or neighbor needed a helping hand, and was an active volunteer with his two sons’ FFA projects. His God and the church were front and center in his life. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hooker for many years and during the time he lived in Beaver, he was a faithful attendee of the First Christian Church. Together with Olene, Bill continued his support of others by delivering Meals on Wheels to homebound citizens. He loved to visit with others and Olene commented that it took twice as long to deliver meals with Bill because he enjoyed visiting so much. She also shared that he couldn’t walk down the street in Beaver or Hooker without stopping to bring a smile to someones face. Bill was a Master Mason in the Blue Lodge and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He served loyally with this organization for many years, attending Lodge in Hooker until he could no longer make the trip. The final days of Bill’s life were blessed by evidence of how much he meant to his family and community. Many friends and relatives made the trip on short notice to Integris Hospital and Integris Hospice House in Oklahoma City to bid farewell to a person who had truly made a difference in the lives of others. One of the highlights was the opportunity to greet the newest members of the family, his great grandchildren, Cameron and Stella White, newborn twins of Cecilee Burdge and Austin White.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Albert (Abie) and Iva Burdge, a grandson, William Patrick Cipolla, a stepson, Jerry Hale, and a brother in law, Allan Fischer. He is survived by his devoted wife, Olene Hale Burdge, his children Mike and Jana Burdge, John Burdge, Pat and Stephanie Cipolla, his step children Alice Hale, Judy and Robert Prince, James and Jeannie Hale, Joe and Shannon Hale, Janna and Micah McKedy, his siblings Carolyn Fischer and Doyle and Anita Thompson, 17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, and a host of lifelong friends and new friends he had made since moving to Beaver.

A celebration of life will be held in the First United Methodist Church in Hooker, Oklahoma at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 19, 2015 with Rev. Craig Denslow and Pastor Rick Main officiating.

Interment will be in the Hooker Cemetery directed by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker, Oklahoma.

Memorials are suggested to one of Bill’s favorite charities, the Shriners Hospital for Children, and may be left at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Oklahoma 73945.

Condolences may be left at www.robertsbrothersfuneralhome.com