[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Paul Joseph Biller
Feb 26, 1928 - Feb 26, 2023
Submitted by Jo Aguirre
© Kingfisher Times & Free Press
Paul Joseph Biller passed from this life on his 95th birthday, Feb. 26, 2023.
The time has come to mourn his passing and celebrate his long and beautiful
life.
Paul was born Feb. 26, 1928, the fifth child and second son of Lizzie and Otto
“Tobe” Biller.
His youth was lived in the time of the Great Depression, but Paul never had a
sense of living in poverty. It seemed everyone was poor in those days.
Paul was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Parish in Okarche. He had great love
and respect for Monsignor Zenon Steber and was an altar server from third grade
through the end of high school. He said he always felt like Holy Trinity
Catholic church was a second home.
The lives of Paul and the Biller family would be beset by heartbreak in December
of 1943, when word came that older brother Seaman First Class Tobias “Bud”
Biller had been lost in the Pacific.
Paul started pre-med studies at Saint Benedict’s College in 1945. He was asked
by his sister, Alice, to return home to assist running the family business,
Biller Motor Company, and farming operations for three small acreages in
Canadian County.
Paul ran the Chevrolet dealership from 1950 to 1973, when he closed the
dealership. He then worked as a parts manager for several car dealerships,
principally Carter Chevrolet in Okarche.
Leaving college was not his plan, but Paul always maintained that God made it up
to him by sending him the love of his life, Janet Fickess.
Paul and Janet were married on Aug. 23, 1950, and enjoyed a marriage of 72
years. Into this union were born five children. Later arrived seven
grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A lifelong resident of Okarche, Paul served on the town council in the 1960s.
During his time on the council, Oklahoma Natural Gas was contracted to provide
natural gas to the community, the town water system was expanded and improved
and waste disposal systems were established. The Eischen addition was also
opened. He served as mayor of Okarche through part of this time and again served
on the town council and as mayor in the 1990s.
When Paul’s sons were young, he was instrumental in starting Little League
baseball in Okarche at the urging of his paperboy, Tommy Arms.
Paul was preceded in death by his daughter Alicia Kay Reed (Joel), parents Otto
R. and Lizzie (Mc-Cabe) Biller, sisters Genevieve Hoehner (William), Betty Roche
(William), Alice Heinen (Robert), Adelma Teague Hollingsworth (Francis Lee and
Earl); brothers SFC Tobias Rapheal Biller and Reverend Thomas Patrick Biller.
He is survived by is loving wife, Janet (Fickess) Biller; daughter Janice Biller
of Oklahoma City; sons Gary Biller (Maysoon) of Conway, Arkansas, Kevin Biller
of Madison, Wisconsin and Mark Biller of Okarche; son-in-law Joel Reed of San
Diego, California; grandchildren Nicole Bowman, Joshua Biller (Megan), Preston
Biller (Sarah), Christopher Biller, Katherine Waters (Chad), Alia Lancaster
(Zeke) and Meagan Biller; great-grandchildren Isaac Bowman, Samuel Bowman,
Alicia Waters, Conrad Biller, Quinn Biller and Louise Lancaster.
Always a hard working and steady tempered man was Paul. He could maintain a
quiet sense of humor through good times and bad. He had a gentle spirit, a ready
smile and an unshakable faith. His kindness and patience to others was
boundless.
He carried in his billfold from the age of 15 until into his 50s a poem
entitled, “What a brave thing it is: to love.” He lived his life bravely, loving
us all unconditionally.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Friday,
March 3, and burial followed at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Okarche under the
direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.
|Holy Trinity Cemetery| |Canadian
County Cemeteries| |Home|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
