Viewing: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday, September 5th, 2014 - Billings Funeral Home Chapel
Funeral: 2:00 PM Saturday, September 6th, 2014 - Billings Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Saturday, September 6th, 2014 - Elmwood Cemetery
Frank Champ, 91 year old resident of Ardmore, formerly of Harper County, passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2014 in Ardmore. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, September 6, 2014 in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Ann Wasson officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm.
Harry Franklin Champ was born on January 21, 1923 in Kibby, Oklahoma to Harry Wilber and Dorothy Elizabeth (Stewart) Champ. He attended Kibby schools and graduated from Kibby High School in 1940. Frank then attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, before being drafted into the United States Navy in 1944. He was stationed on Marcus Island, near Japan for most of his service time during World War II. Frank earned the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Frank was united in marriage to the former Marcella M. Owens in Perryton, Texas on January 31, 1948. The couple lived in Stillwater, Woodward and Wichita, Kansas before settling in Tulsa in 1952. Frank worked in the construction business for the next 29 years. They then returned to Harper County in 1981 to operate the family farm retiring in 2009, when they moved to Ardmore. Frank served a four year term as county commissioner for Harper County beginning in January of 1983.
He was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church in Woodward on May 20, 1984.
Frank is survived by his wife of 66 years Marcella Champ of the home; two daughters, Karen Barber and husband John of Kingsport, Tennessee; Beth Ridley and husband Chris of Ardmore; one son, Harry Champ and wife Monica of Owasso; six grandchildren, Jessica and Julia Barber; Brian Ridley and wife Lauren; Lisa Stewart and husband Bill; Nathan and Aaron Champ; one great-granddaughter, Eleanor Ridley; two brothers-in-law, William “Sonny” Owens and wife Ardith of Phoenix, Arizona; Ronald Owens and wife Laveta of Woodward; sister-in-law, Delores Owens of Buffalo; several other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, William L. Champ.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice with the funeral home accepting the contributions.