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Riley Byran Needham, 83, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, died December 26, 2019. Riley was born on October 15, 1936 to parents George Dewey Needham and Dott “Reasoner” Needham in Grove, Oklahoma.
Riley received his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Oklahoma and went on to receive his PhD in Petroleum Engineering. He went to work for Phillips Petroleum in 1965 and during Riley’s career he received 36 patents. He was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers for over 50 years. Riley was one of the only three individuals to receive the Phillips Fellow Emeritus title in the history of the company. Riley would have served 50 years on January 25, 2020. He led the team for Phillips Petroleum that worked on the Ekofisk subsidence in the 1980’s. The solution was to jack up the rigs and was an unprecedented feat of engineering.
During Riley’s leave of absence in the 1990’s he won a lawsuit on behalf of neighboring landowners in Delaware County against poultry plant owners that polluted the ground water.
In Riley’s free time he loved to spend time with his family, gardening, and mentoring others. He also loved farming and raising cattle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dott Needham, and his 6 siblings, Don Needham, Geneva Coale, Georgie Langston, Bob Needham, Reva Carey, and Dewey Needham.
Riley is survived by 5 daughters, Karla Chapman, Kathy Needham, Stacy Needham, Jessica Needham, and Victoria Needham, 2 grandsons, Ian Boyd and Asher Needham, and 2 brothers, Noel and Charles Needham.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 28, 2019 4-8 P.M. and Sunday, December 29, 2019 9 A.M.-8 P.M. Memorial Services will be Monday, December 30, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. at City Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
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