Obituary of Richard Slankard

Richard "Dick" Lee Slankard was born November 11, 1925 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to William Owen and Anna (Arnall) Slankard. He was born at the family home near 71st Street and Quincy Ave, the 9th of 14 children. He passed away at his home on March 7, 2011 at the age of 85. Dick and Lea raised three sons and were just days shy of celebrating their 61st Wedding Anniversary. As the boys grew up, Dick accompanied them on Boy Scout activities and encouraged each as they earned their Eagle Scout Award. He adored his two granddaughters and enjoyed watching them mature into young women. For the past several months he enjoyed holding his great-granddaughter in his arms, just as he had done years before when his granddaughters were young. In the early 1960s Dick built a lake home on Grand Lake and enjoyed fishing, boating and visiting with his lake neighbors. Dick was an avid tomato grower and provided tomatoes to family and neighbors. In the fall, Dick would gather black walnuts and pecans from several locations around Tulsa. He would clean, crack and separate the nuts from the hulls during the winter months. He supplied his family and friends with the fruits of his labor. After serving with the Occupational Forces in Germany, Dick returned to the states and started his Plastering career in 1948. Dick became a master craftsman in the Plastering field. Dick supervised jobs for several Tulsa Area Plastering contractors and spent his last years before retiring working with his sons, Mike and Randy, at Slankard Plastering Services. On June 7, 1990, the Tulsa Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute awarded Dick their Craftsmanship Certificate of Merit for the exemplary excellence in the quality of his plastering work on the Philbrook Museum of Art expansion project. After he retired, Dick acted as sidewalk superintendent for all of the many road construction projects that occurred in front of his home at Riverside Drive and I-44. For many years Dick and Lea tended a large flower garden across from their home, Dick would provide the mowing around the flowers protecting them from the large tractor mowers that the state and city used. A true craftsman, Dick completed many projects including building several dining tables, each from the recycled oak boards from wooden pallets. Preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Jewell Davis, Dorothy Stunkard, Bess True, Daisy McElyea, and Nellie Woods; brothers, Bob Slankard, Raymond Slankard, Roy Slankard and Bill Slankard. Richard is survived by his wife, Leatrice (Webber) Slankard; three sons, Mike Slankard, Randy Slankard and Karen Beth Bullock, and Jon and Karen Slankard; two granddaughters, Frances Maloy and her husband Nic, and Anne Slankard; one great- granddaughter, Maggie Maloy; sisters, Betty Ballard and Phyllis McLoud; brothers, Gary Slankard and Wayne Slankard; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family would like to give a special thanks to the St. John's Hospice team for their loving care. In lieu of flower, please contribute to your favorite charity. A graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. Ninde Brookside 918.742.5556 www.ninde.com