Olan R. Bozarth

On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 5:00 p.m., Olan R. Bozarth, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 94. Olan was born on April 29, 1924, in Amber, Oklahoma, to Olan and Myrtle (Wallace) Bozarth. He graduated from Alex High School in 1942. After graduation, he joined the NYA (National Youth Administration) where he lived in Seattle, Washington, and worked for Bascum Wire Rope Company until he was old enough to serve in the armed forces. During WWII, Sergeant Bozarth served in the Army Air Corps' European Theater as a B-24 Liberator flight engineer and top gunner, completing 30 bombing missions. He was part of the army air force group that took part in the pre-invasion bombing of southern France, the classic attacks on the Romanian oil fields and the aerial campaign to strangle German supply lines in northern Italy. As part of the 485th Bomb Group, he was stationed in Venosa, Italy. Upon returning from the war, he resided in Chickasha, Oklahoma, where he met a lovely young lady at church, Rozella Gamble. They began their life together on January 5, 1949, and recently celebrated their 70th Anniversary. He received a degree from Oklahoma A & M and then moved to Tulsa to begin a 37- year career with Caterpillar, retiring in 1989. They raised three girls, Judith, Janice, and Joan. Upon retirement, Olan began remodeling projects and took up the hobby of making pens out of exotic woods. He gifted his beautiful pens to everyone in his large Sunday School group and many others. Olan was known for helping people, especially widows, doing repairs, mowing lawns, and whatever else needed to be done. He was also active at his church with a major remodel. If he saw a need, he was there to help. He will always be remembered for his generosity of time, money, and skills. Central to his life was his faith. He and Rozella raised their family in church, instilling in them a love for God that is carrying on to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved reading the Bible and had a plan to read it in its entirety twice a year. Every night, he would get on his knees and pray for each family member. This legacy of faith will be remembered and carried on. Olan attributed his longevity to the Lord. He was adamant about taking his supplements and at 90, was still practicing a daily exercise routine which involved 200 sit-ups! He also liked to keep his mind active by solving cryptoquotes and sudoku puzzles. Olan was preceded in death by his father, Olan, and his mother, Myrtle. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Ova Johnson and Evelyn Cheatham. He is survived by his wife, Rozella, his daughter's and their spouses, Judith and Bill Kelley (Tulsa, OK), Janice and Richard Potter (Kellyville, OK), and Joan and Mike Poling (Tulsa, OK), and a sister, Wanda Roper (Elgin, OK). Olan is survived by five grandchildren and their spouses, Brandon and Adrienne Potter (Owasso, OK), Jami & Todd Hackler (Poteau, OK), Rachael and Hans Stockenberger (Saudi Arabia), Katie and Theo Sheppard (Rockville, MD), and Matthew and Sarah (O'Connor) Nolan (Gainesville, FL). He is survived by seven great grandchildren, Chandler Potter, Lola Potter, Solei Hackler, Brek Hackler, Astrid Sheppard, Elowen Sheppard, and the most recent and his namesake, Olan Sheppard. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 21, 2019, at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st St. at 2:00 p.m. Family visitation will be Sunday, January 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Donations may be given in memory of Olan to Saint Simeon's Foundation.

Olan R. Bozarth

April 29, 1924 - January 16, 2019