Edgar Knight Van Eman, Jr.

Ed (E.K.) Van Eman, proud lifetime resident of Tulsa, OK passed away Oct 28, 2023 at the age of 99 in his apartment at University Village Retirement Center. A service will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church at 11AM on 11/08/23. Ed will be remembered for many things, but perhaps none more than for his personal integrity, honesty and character. Raised in the depression primarily by his mother, Ed learned to be resourceful, thrifty and creative. Ed joined Troop 1 of the Boy Scouts of America when he was 11 and found a code by which he would live his life in the Boy Scout law and oath. Ed met the love of his life, Marjean Perkins, while attending Central High School. When he was 17, he enrolled at Oklahoma A&M working towards a degree in engineering. In 1943 his ROTC unit was called up and after basic training, he volunteered as a paratrooper for the "Lucky 13th" Army Airborne Division, a new unit created at Fort Bragg. Ed and Marjean married on December 1, 1942 during a short furlough before he was deployed to Europe. After the war, Ed and Jean moved into Vet's Village in Stillwater while he completed his degree. After graduation he went to work for Service Pipeline, the pipeline division of Amoco. In the early 1950's, he and Marjean left First Presbyterian Church downtown to help charter the new 'suburban' church, John Knox Presbyterian on 31st street between Harvard and Lewis. Until his recent passing, Ed was the last surviving charter member of the church. At John Knox, he helped form Boy Scout Troop 122 and when his boys came of age he served in virtually every adult leadership role in the troop including several stints as the Scoutmaster, serving the church troop for over 15 years. His dedication and leadership showed countless boys what it meant to be a good man and a good leader. In the 1970s, when Service Pipeline moved to the Chicago area, Ed went to work with his friend Dick Bagwell at Bagwell Associates, a manufacturing representative firm. He later purchased the business upon the retirement of Mr. Bagwell in the 1980's. Later a son and grandson joined him in the business and for many years the three generations worked together. Ed worked every day until well past his 98th birthday, retiring in May 2022. Ed was known in the business world for his honesty and for always doing things the right way, the same as he was known at church, in scouting, in his family and among friends. He had a unique way of listening and drawing out the best in people. He was preceded in death by Marjean and is survived by his four children, Fred (Linnea) of Tulsa, Jim (Susan) of Kansas City, Jayne (Allessandro) of Florence, Italy and Tom (Leanna) of Tulsa. Six Grandchildren, Sarah, Jason, David, Emily, Elisabeth and Matthew, eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. In lieu of flowers, donations to John Knox Presbyterian Church or Neighbor for Neighbor would be appreciated.

Edgar Knight Van Eman, Jr.

January 9, 1924 - October 28, 2023