Benjamin Harrison Tidwell, Jr.
December 24, 1926-November 5, 2014

Every morning, my grandpa asked for the Local section of the paper first—he wanted to check the obituaries, "see if my name's in it." Well, Grandpa, today's your day. Read on as we try to explain all that you meant to us, to tell people about the man we were so lucky to know. But truth be told, we'd need an entire newspaper to write it all.

My grandpa, Benjamin H. Tidwell, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ben H. Tidwell, Sr. and Virgil Louise Schneider. He married Boyce L. Patton in 1949. They had two daughters, Kathy and Cyndy. He passed away on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at home, surrounded by those he loved.

My grandpa came from humble beginnings and worked hard to take good care of his family. He was a salesman and a business owner—a true self-made man who made his own success through strong ethics and hard work.

My grandpa had a big heart. He was a proud Freemason and active with the Shriners for more than 65 years—dedicated to helping children. When his daughters, Kathy and Cyndy, were small, they loved going to the circus and trying to pick out which clown was daddy. He was also a member of the Elks Club and a passionate supporter of U.S. Veterans. He was a generous soul through and through.

My grandpa was a man of opinions. Proudly "two years older than Mickey Mouse," he saw many things in his lifetime and I think he had something to say about all of them. Did you know that the end of prohibition was the worst thing to ever happen for alcohol? It meant folks had to go out to the liquor store—no more leaving a check in the mailbox and getting a booze delivery on the porch.

My grandpa knew how to enjoy life. He loved a good hamburger—so much so that he opened his own diner. He also loved his family, books, Tulsa history (and "those dirty old oil men"), Tabasco, and Fox News—so much so that he'd turn up the volume enough to share with the neighbors. Like I said, he was generous.

Grandpa, you did it. You lived a life to be proud of and took a graceful exit when your time was up. I'd say you did "Pretty fair. Pretty good for an old man." You are unforgettable—as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. We'll miss your stories, but we'll always remember to mention your name and get a good seat.

Now laughing on top of that giant full moon, Ben is missed by his wife, Boyce of Tulsa; daughter, Kathy Vinson-Lunger and husband Larry of Tulsa; daughter, Cyndy Kleindienst and husband Ed of Tulsa; grandchildren, Holly Robinson, Melissa Craig, Brian Atkins, and Kendall Atkins; and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Ben requested that donations be made to the Akdar Shrine Hospital Services Transportation Fund.
A Celebration Of Life will be held on Monday, November 10,
2014 at 10:30 A.M. Moore Funeral Home - Rosewood Chapel