Obituary of Ken Tobler

Kenneth Lee Tobler was born December 5, 1939 in McAlester, Oklahoma to William Bryan Tobler and Opal Marie (Morahan) Tobler.  He passed from this life March 2, 2025 in Tulsa at age 85.  He had fought and won battles against cancer and various illnesses since 2018 before ultimately losing the final battle.  Throughout it all, he maintained his sense of humor, joy and loving nature to all who knew him.

He attended public schools in Poteau, Oklahoma and graduated in May 1957. He attended Southeastern Oklahoma State College for one year, graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1961, and from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1964.

In high school, Ken played center and right tackle in football becoming an avid OU football fan for life. He declined college football scholarships because he wanted to pursue a life in ministry and chose a different collegiate path. Ken was licensed to preach by the Methodist Church as a senior in high school.

At OCU, Ken was honored with the President’s Trophy for the Most Representative Ministerial Student.  College and seminary days were busy as he pastored small church appointments on weekends and summers for all seven years of study.  Ken served churches in the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference for 46 years, starting at age 17 and retiring at age 63.  He was active in conference committees and boards, youth camps and retiree retreats. At annual conference the year he retired, he was chosen to “pass the mantle” to a newly ordained Elder. His passion for ministry led him to preach, teach, pastoral care and mentor ministerial candidates as they worked their way to ordination.

Love of photography, adventure and travel took him to sites of antiquity in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Russia and Mexico.  Study trips to Israel and humanitarian trips to Russia expanded his knowledge of Christianity and its mission.  Trips to our national parks were relaxation.

Ken married Carol Ann Hardin on June 16, 1961 and they shared 63 years together as they raised their two children, Teresa and Michael, worked in the church moving from parsonage to parsonage, and traveling.  After retirement, they moved to Oklahoma Methodist Manor (now Trinity Woods) and loved the sense of community.  Ken especially loved the Spann Wellness Center for exercise and visiting with friends in the coffee shop.  Friday nights were reserved for playing cards with friends and their golf cart took them around the campus on the streets and trails.

Ken was a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather.  He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Teresa Collis of Cypress, Texas; son, Michael Tobler of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; brother, Charles Tobler and his wife Jean of Edmond, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Lauren Ratliff and husband Kyle of Cypress, Texas and Sydney Kleypas and husband Andrew of Dallas, Texas; and great grandchildren, Kylee and Lacy Ratliff of Cypress, Texas. 

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Bryan and Opal Tobler, of Poteau, Oklahoma.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church on March 29, 2025 at 2pm. 

Memorial donations may be made to Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119.

Ninde Funeral & Cremation | (918) 742-5556 | ninde.com