Obituary of William Gilpin

William C. Gilpin, Jr. July 10, 1923 - February 22, 2012 Bill Gilpin lived his entire life in Oklahoma. He was born in Garber on July 10, 1923, to William C. Gilpin and Pauline Maly Gilpin, and he died in Tulsa on February 22, 2012. Bill and his wife JoAnn Southwick Gilpin celebrated their sixty-eighth wedding anniversary on February 4, 2012. Bill is also survived by his three sons and their wives, Clark and Nancy Gilpin, Dennis and Kelley Hays-Gilpin, and Neil and Bendy Gilpin; four grandchildren, Parker Gilpin and his wife Jen, Steven Gilpin, Taylor Gilpin and his wife Kacey, and Jennie Gilpin; and two great-grandchildren, Avery Gilpin and Colby Gilpin. Bill's brother Richard Gilpin died in 1989. Bill served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the European theater, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. Returning to Oklahoma after the war, he earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering at Oklahoma State University, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. During his professional career, Bill worked in heating and air-conditioning sales and engineering with Joy Manufacturing and the Honeywell and Worthington corporations. After living in Shawnee and Oklahoma City, Bill and JoAnn moved to Tulsa in 1964. In Tulsa, Bill continued lifelong creative interests in art and music and enjoyed community service, especially through the Boy Scouts of America and the public schools his sons attended. He immersed himself in service through Harvard Avenue Christian Church, where he was an active member of the choir until the time of his death. Throughout his adult life, Bill devoted himself to his family, friends, and church, and his humor and kindness brought joy and gratitude to JoAnn, his children, his grandchildren, and his many friends. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in the Harvard Ave. Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, gifts to celebrate Bill's life may be made to the Memorial Fund at Harvard Avenue Christian Church 5502 S. Harvard, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135.