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April 12, 2006 November 17, 1913 ~ April 10, 2006 Anadarko - Services for Mildred Upchurch, 92, of Anadarko, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13, in First Assembly of God in Anadarko with the Rev. Don Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Anadarko's Memorial Lane Cemetery under direction of Smith Funeral Home of Anadarko. Mrs. Upchurch was born November 17, 1913, in Ada, the daughter of Charles and Ada Leslie. Monday, April 10, 2006, was the closing of an era for the Upchurch family. Mrs. Upchurch continued her journey from this life to eternity with the Lord. She was married to Roy Upchurch on June 28, 1937. He preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one brother, and three sisters. After raising five children, and at the age of 55, she followed her passion to be a beautician and was the owner/operator of Mildred's Beauty Salon. She continued working for over 25 years. A proud lifetime member of First Assembly of God church, where she served in many capacities, she was devoted to her church and was dearly loved by all. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary and a past member of the Quilters Guild. She loved traveling and her most memorable trip was to Israel in 2000 with four of her children, where she walked down the Masada. Survivors include five children, Amy Anderson of Oklahoma City, Larry Upchurch and his wife Jane of Yukon, Phyllis Parks and her husband Jerry of Bristow, Steve Upchurch and his wife Darla of Oklahoma City, and Dana Hines and her husband Gene of Ponca City; two sisters, Loretta Starr of Daly City, Calif., and Pat Davis of Duncan; her 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Casketbearers will be grandsons, Dennis Anderson, Michael Anderson, Jeff Parks, Billy Hargrave, Mark Godberson and Jayson Morgan. |
Norman, Oklahoma Monday, October 24, 2011 February 14, 1930 ~ October 23, 2011 Virgil L. Upchurch, 81, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2011, at Norman Regional Hospital. Upchurch was born on February 14, 1930, in Anadarko, to Arbulee Upchurch and Rebecca Jane Dabney Upchurch, who for many years owned and operated Upchurch Groceries. While working there as a youth, he developed a strong work ethic and a passion for people that would serve him well all his life. He attended Anadarko public schools, participating in athletics, including football and track and field squad. He was a member of coach Smitty Williams' conference championship team that made the AHS football program's first-ever state playoff appearance in 1945. He was an excellent student who excelled in history. Upon graduating from AHS in 1948, Upchurch attended Cameron Junior College in Lawton, Oklahoma, for one year before transferring to Central State College in Edmond in 1950. After one semester there, the Korean War broke out and he joined the U.S. Air Force, proudly serving three years with the 59th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and reaching the rank of staff sergeant. His military career included navigational training and featured stops in San Antonio, Cape Cod, Houston and Goose Bay, Labrador, among others. During his final year of service, he developed an interest in law and decided to pursue a law degree upon his return to civilian life. In January 1955, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and set out on a course that would last more than five decades and include countless courtroom victories. He married his first wife, Jo Ellen West, in October of 1956 and of that union were born two sons, Jay Craig in 1959 and Gary Neal in 1961 He earned his bachelors degree in history in 1957 and two years later, his law degree. That same year, 1959, he returned to his hometown of Anadarko, where he landed his first job as an attorney for W.H. Cooper's firm. A year later, he ran for Caddo County Attorney and was elected by an overwhelming majority, eventually serving three terms. As County Attorney, he lost just two trial cases, forging a reputation as an effective prosecutor. Although politically active over the course of his career, Upchurch, a self-professed Yellow Dog Democrat, never sought office again after serving as county attorney. He did, however, remain active in the cause of fighting for social justice issues. While his law practice often involved extended hours, he always made time for his sons, coaching their Little League teams and attending games faithfully. The trio -- later to become a foursome with his stepson Mark -- made countless trips together to watch professional and University of Oklahoma-related sporting events and built a lifetime of memories that included a deep-seeded passion for the Sooners. He returned to private practice in 1965 with veteran attorney Haskell Pugh, during which time he developed a strong reputation as a successful defense attorney. He and Pugh remained associates for 13 years until Pugh's retirement in 1978, which opened the door for a partnership with Upchurch's longtime friend John Paul Buzbee. The firm of Buzbee and Upchurch enjoyed a successful 30-year run and is still located at 203 W. Broadway in Anadarko, despite the recent retirement of the two principals. In 1982, Upchurch married his second wife, Sallie Buzbee, with whom he spent the last 30 years of his life. During that time, the couple raised two sons -- Mark and Rodney -- and enjoyed traveling and exploring the world together, taking trips to Greece and Canada and many points in between. They spent many happy moments at their cabin in Colorado. Another of Upchurch's favorite pastimes was doting on his four grandchildren -- Brittany, Breleigh, Mahlia and Jacob, whom he loved dearly. In 2009, Upchurch celebrated 50 years of practicing law in Anadarko, a half-century that saw him become a beacon of the community who touched countless lives. He was a member of the Anadarko Rotary Club and previously served as a trustee of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. He also served as president for Oklahomans for Indian Opportunity and was a proud member of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Association and the Sooner Club. A longtime member of the First Christian Church of Anadarko, he had a special way with people, no matter who they were or where they came from, that made them feel important and respected. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Genevieve Blakley, two brothers, Max Upchurch and Donald Upchurch, and his first wife, Jo Ellen Upchurch. Survivors include his wife, Sallie, of the home, sons Jay Upchurch of Norman, Mark Stack of Oklahoma City, Rodney Stack, and Gary and wife Christie of Norman. Services will be held under the direction of Smith Funeral Home at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, at the First Christian Church in Anadarko, Oklahoma, with the Rev. Tom Buzbee officiating. |
© Smith Funeral Home Anadarko, Oklahoma December 27, 1995 January 24, 1934 ~ December 24, 1995 Jo Ellen [West] Upchurch, longtime Anadarko public school teacher, died Christmas Eve at her home, one month before her 62nd birthday. She spent 23 years as an educator at Anadarko High School, teaching Spanish, the passion of her life. She took early retirement in November 1993 when her health would no longer permit her class schedule. Upchurch was born January 24, 1934 in Purcell. She graduated from Purcell High School in 1952 and earned her bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of Oklahoma in 1956. That same year, she and Virgil Upchurch of Anadarko were married. During her tenure at Anadarko High School, she initiated the annual Spanish Club dinner which generated funds used for the annual Spanish Club trip to Mexico, where her students put their language skills to work. She was a longtime member of the First Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Doris King West & Joe Warlick West. Survivors are her sons, Jay Craig Upchurch, and Gary Neal & wife, Christie Upchurch, all of Norman; her former husband, Virgil Upchurch of Norman; a brother, William King West of Hawaii; 2 half-brothers & 2 half-sisters, Johnny West & Joyce West, both of Miami, Fl., Joe Francis West & Arlene West, both of NYC; 3 cousins, Ginny & Dana McClain, Shellknob, Mo., & Thelma Warren, Deport, Tx. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, December 28th, at the First Christian Church of Anadarko. Burial will be in Memory Lane Cemetery, Anadarko. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Heart Assoc. Directed by Smith Funeral Chapel, Anadarko. |
Tuesday, 31 July 2007 Cynthia Ann Upchurch 1956-2007 April 15, 1956 ~ August 7, 1974 Cynthia Ann passed from this life at her sister's home in Verden, Oklahoma on Sunday, July 29. She was born April 15, 1956, in Anadarko to Max V. and Sue Ann [Finley] Upchurch. She survived her first battle with cancer in the early 1980's, but was stricken again in August of 2006, and was unable to fight it off. She was a life-long resident of Anadarko, and graduated from Anadarko High School, Class of 1974, where she was in the top 10% of her class, a member of the National Honor Society, and on the Superintendent's Honor Roll. She attended USAO in Chickasha for 3 years, majoring in journalism and accounting. She was employed at Hollytex Carpet Mill and then at Maremont for many years. Later, she was a shift manager at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Cindy loved her grandchildren, who called her "Honey." She enjoyed reading and movies, especially murder mysteries. She loved animals of all kinds, playing the piano, and bingo. She was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Anadarko, and was baptized at the age of 12. She was preceded in death by her father, Max, grandparents Aubrey and Fay Finley, and Arbulee and Becky Upchurch; uncles Don Upchurch and Keith Finley, and aunt Genevieve Blakley. Survivors include her son, Jeremy Upchurch and wife Cara of San Diego; daughter Kaci Nicole Upchurch of Anadarko; grandchildren, Kadessa and Danae Upchurch, C.J. Howie, Max K Upchurch, Jaymen Upchurch and Quincy D, Upchurch; her mother, Sue Upchurch of Anadarko; sister Debbie Upchurch Harper and husband John of Verden; three aunts, Rosalie Finley Nath and husband Clifford of Anadarko, Evelyn Upchurch of Yukon, and Reba Flood and husband Eddie of Verden; uncles, Ansel Finley of Anadarko, Virgil Upchurch and wife Sally of Norman and George "Shorty" Blakley of Cement; nephews, Larry McBride of Chickasha and Bruce McBride and wife Dresden of Ashburn, Virginia; nieces Sasha Willis and husband Kreg and Chanda Miller, all of Chickasha; also many cousins, other relatives and a wide circle of loving friends. Services will be held at 10 am Thursday, August 2, 2007, at the First Baptist Church with burial in Memory Lane Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail to steversonfuneralhome@netride.net |
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