Dennis H. Wake passed peacefully to his new life at 11:19 p.m. on February 25, 2014.
Dennis was born to Ralph and Helen Wake in Peoria, Ill. On August 24, 1937 his family moved to Bartlesville at an early age and he attended school in Bartlesville graduating from College High with the class of 1956. He then attended Oklahoma State University then on to the Navy where he sang in the Navy Choir. Dennis started his career with Phillips 66 in Kansas City. He moved to Los Angeles California where his sales started career. He worked for Firestone tire and rubber co. where he had an office at Lou Ehler's Cadillac, selling Vogue tyre upgrades to customers. It was there that he met and made acquaintance with several movie and TV stars.
Dennis returned to Bartlesville in the early 70's and started his association with Oakley Pontiac Buick. Dennis was a very respected and successful car salesman and was a member of Pontiac Master sales Guild and Buick Professional Sales master clubs and was a leader in sales in the dealer zone of these brands for several years.
Unca Den as he liked to be called by family and close friends loved to tell stories of his past sales and meeting of characters and famous celebrities, and he told those stories with accuracy right up to his final hours. Unca Den also loved to tell jokes, this was very entertaining to all, not due to the content of the jokes but by the amount of tears he would generate laughing so hard while telling them.
Dennis married Nancy Fields on Dec 30 1976 and they made their home in Bartlesville since that time. They enjoyed travel (by car only!) and entertaining by the pool. Dennis always enjoyed admiring and owning fine automobiles and had an extensive knowledge of most brands. Dennis was also an avid audiophile and enjoyed recordings of classical and jazz music. Dennis was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and a past member of Hillcrest Country club and Bartlesville Elks Lodge.
Dennis was preceded in death by his Mother and Father Helen and Ralph Wake and a nephew, Troy Ferguson.
Dennis is survived by his wife Nancy and his little dog Schatzi of the home, a son Dennis Wake Jr. of California, Aunt Pauline Wake of Peoria, 111, sister Carol Stoneccipher and husband Don, sister in-law Linda Ferguson and husband Craig, sister in-law Jam's Dragon, mother in-law Dolores Fields, father in-law Frank Fields and wife Reta, brother in-law John Fields and wife Toni, niece Lindsey Fields and husband Jeremy Crosby and a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, March 3, 2014 in the St. Luke's Episcopal Church with Rev. Dr. T. Lee Stephens Rector officiating. Cremation arrangements were directed by the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorials have been established and those who wish to make a contribution in memory of Dennis may do so to: Nursing Education Fund at Jane Phillips Medical Center Bluestem Foundation 3500 SE Frank Phillips Blvd. Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74006 attn. Mike Wilt or SPCA 16620 State Hwy 123, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003 or St. Luke's Episcopal Church 210 E. 9th St. Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003. Friends who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.stumpff.org..