J.D. Spitzer was born November 1, 1923 in Hammon, Oklahoma with his twin brother A.D who passed November 20, 1936 in a car & horse accident at the of 13. J.D. and A.D. were the sons of the late Solen Casper Spitzer and Bessie (Armstrong) Spitzer. J.D. passed September 4, 2016 at the age 92 yrs 10 mo in Claremore, Oklahoma at the Vereran's Center.

J.D. graduated in 1942 from Berlin High School in Oklahoma; his class was the largest to have graduated from Berlin with members of 27 in the class. J.D. has said "it was a good thing they graded on a curve that was the only way he would have graduated". J.D. lived on a farm near Cheyenne, Oklahoma with his parents who also ran a county store, sold gas, "Superior Feed" and bought cream & eggs. J.D was very active member in 4H in which he had show steers. JD letter in Basketball, baseball and 4H.

J.D. met his wife Joan McCraw in elementary school and married her when she was a junior and he was a senior in High School. They were united in marriage on November 10, 1942 at the First Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joan passed January 10, 1997 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, they were married 55 years.

J.D. served during World War II in the Army, from November 1, 1943 to February 17, 1946. His basic training was in Taylor, Texas. J.D. said "it was for 2 weeks and 9 minutes". He was trained with the 31st Infantry Artillery Division. When they were shipped overseas he was the last on off the bus and they made him a line man, good thing he said "because over half of the guys he started with were killed". He was then assigned to drive a truck, he missed out on been assigned to the Ducks, because he was too short. He served overseas in Guinea, Mortal Islands, and the Philippines; J. D. saw things he did not want to talk about until late in life. J.D. was also Honorable Discharged from the Reserve Corps on February 16, 1949.

After returning home he went to welding school in Enid Oklahoma; took a job at the welding shop in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. He also worked at his parent's country store known as "Spitzer's Corner", for a while. He then worked for Boeing welding mounts for gliders, work slowed down and he worked at Spartan's welding motor mounts.

In 1947 J.D., Joan and their young daughter Deanna moved to Dumas, Texas where he drove a truck for Tom's peanuts. J.D. and family moved back to Cheyenne, Oklahoma where he farmed for a while.

Andy Olson a friend of J.D. talked him into moving to Tulsa to work for the Tulsa World & Tribune paper company as a distrait manager. J.D. retired from the paper company after 30 years.

J.D.'s careers covered a lot of areas; he contracted building of houses, built firework stands, Bait/gas and Food store in Catoosa, sold fruit, flowers, pumpkins, water mellons, fireworks and Christmas trees, raised cattle, had horses, even had some donkeys, chickens, ducks and a few dogs. Bill Manley and J.D. sold Christmas trees together for over 55 years at 41st & Harvard, well known as Southwest Nursery. JD continued for a few more years at 41st & Harvard with the help of family. Not done yet, J.D. also operated & sold Fireworks for OK Fireworks and this on top of raising 4 kids and some grand-kids as well.

JD moved to Kelleyville Oklahoma to what he called the Spitzer ranch and purchased a fireworks company in which was named BC Fireworks and operated it with family.

Surviving J.D.: Sister Wanda Gayle Kilpatrick of Raleigh, North Carolina, daughter Deanna & husband Bob Phillipe of Tulsa, OK, daughter Jeannie Spitzer of Jenks, OK, twin sons; Daniel & his wife Rene' Spitzer of Catoosa, OK, son John Spitzer of Tulsa, OK, JD has 9 grandchildren; Jeannette Greene, Millie Sweetin, Shannon Phillipe, Dana Phillipe, Jason Spitzer, Jeremy Rector, Erin Kiker, Solen Spitzer, and deceased Grandson Benjamin Spitzer, also has 14 great grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and friends.


Viewing will be 10AM-8PM, Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Service will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, September 9, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233