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Robert "Bob" Paul Wherry passed away August 12, 2020 after a valiant and unnecessary battle against COVID-19. He was a much-loved and respected husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend and civil servant.
He was born August 6, 1947 in Holton, KS to George and Frances Wherry. One of seven children, his love of books and learning began early. In fact, he and his sisters and brothers would walk three miles to the library every week, always checking out the maximum number of books before hiking the three miles back home. He attended one of the last one-room schools and yes, he did walk a mile to school every day regardless of the weather!
A commitment to public service began early with Bob when he enlisted in the Air Force in 1969. After his enlistment, he added to his B.A. in Economics from Fort Hays Kansas University a master’s degree in Political Science from Wichita State University in 1976.
Beginning in 1978, his dedication moved to public administration with his first position as an assistant city manager in Herington, KS. In 1981 he was appointed city manager in Yale, OK. He went on to serve as city manager in Glenpool and Harrah, OK before becoming city manager in Lakeland, TN. In his last position, as a Revenue Compliance Officer with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, he remained committed to civil service as he took great pride in helping businesses manage their sales tax finances.
In 1995, Bob met who would later become the love of his life, Aliene. Little did both know one swing dance would change their lives forever. The couple considered it a miracle they were in the right place at the right time. The friendship soon blossomed to a love affair and the couple was married in 1997. Over the years, they both enjoyed reading, baseball, dancing and being with their families. They also enjoyed travel including their trips to China, Panama, Canada, Mexico and many states in the USA.
He was a long-time member of the City Management Association of Oklahoma, Tennessee City Management Association and the International City Management Association. He was also dedicated to improved public speaking. For more than 35 years, Bob was a member of Toastmasters International and participated in numerous local and state competitions.
During all his positions in city management, Bob worked to improve or establish a community library. His love of books was further affirmed with his ongoing Friends of the Library membership and his attendance at the Annual Book Sale at the OKC Fairgrounds.
Bob especially enjoyed being a grandfather and great-grandfather. His extensive collection of Hot Wheels sedans, trucks, first responder vehicles and race cars, along with his roadway rugs, always made for exciting play times. There were always enough Hot Wheels to go around.
Bob also loved poetry to the extent he attended courses, workshops and readings. He enjoyed the prose of others, like “Days Gone By” by the late poet Michael H. Cotton, while also authoring his own poetry to include “Dreams of Youth” and “My Day of Grey.” Additionally, Bob enjoyed playing the violin. His love of the stringed instrument started later in life when he began taking lessons in his 40s. He appreciated the violin’s place in classical music to include “Concerto for Two Violins” and “The Four Seasons” both by Vilvaldi.
In addition to his wife Aliene, Bob is survived by his daughter Angela Wherry-Curtis and husband James, son Ronald Werneke and his wife Vicki, and daughter Michelann Ooten and her husband David; Grandchildren Keith and Gayle Ooten, Michael and Molly Ooten, Sara Werneke, Peter Werneke and his wife Caitlin Keeney, Tia Hawthorne, Kali Curtis and Katherine Curtis; sisters Mary Ann Wherry, Margaret Wilson and husband Jerry, Barbara Scala and her husband Bill, Eleanor Wherry and her husband Kim; brothers Vincent Wherry and John Wherry; great grandchildren Jayshawn, Leah, Henry, Nikki, Benjamin, Angela and Mazie Ooten; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
As an alternative to flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the City of Edmond Library at: Library Endowment Trust to Support the Edmond City Library, 300 Park Avenue, OKC, OK 73102. Please be sure to designate your donation is for the Edmond City Library.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Sat. October 3, 2020 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel Edmond, OK.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to the health environment. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Then click on ‘Videos’ then ‘Live Streams’.
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