David Oakley

Mr. David Wayne Oakley, 70 of Bartlesville died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Jane Phillips Medical Center. Dave was born in Cherokee, Oklahoma on January 1, 1938 to Cecil and Fairly (Belcher) Oakley and was a graduate of Cherokee (OK) High School. He attended the University of Oklahoma on a Navy scholarship and graduated with a degree in Business Administration and a commission in the U.S. Navy. On February 02, 1960 David married Carolyn Miller in Dewey; together they raised 2 children. From 1960-1964 he served on the destroyer USS Uhlmann and as Supply Officer at NAS Alameda. In 1964 he came to Bartlesville to enter the automobile business with his dad, and he has remained in that business for the past 44 years. Dave served on many state, regional, and national automobile dealer advisory boards. He was appointed by the Governor to the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission where he served for 8 years. In 1987 he was awarded the Time magazine Quality Dealer finalist award for community involvement and model dealer ethics. His greatest enjoyment of the car business however, was getting to know his customers: their interests, where they grew up, and all about their children. Dave was active in many civic affairs, including Bartlesville Rotary, one of the early Community Center Trust Authority Boards, the Boards of Jane Phillips Hospital, First United Methodist Church, Credit Bureau, WestStar, and Arvest Bank. He also served as President of the Bartlesville Area Chamber of Commerce and was asked to extend his term during the difficult Pickens-Ichan takeover time. Dave is survived by his wife Carolyn of 48 years, one son David and his wife Shelly, one daughter Caren Ford and her husband Rusty, four grandchildren, David and Hannah Oakley and Russell and Carson Ford, his mother Fairy, two brothers Bruce Oakley of Bartlesville and Tom Oakley of Atlanta. He was preceded in death by his father Cecil Oakley. Funeral services for Mr. Oakley will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 28, 2008 at the First Methodist Church with Rev. Buz Wierick officiating. Funeral services are under the direction of the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the MUTUAL Girls Club, 321 Penn, Bartlesville, OK 74003. Memorials may also be made to the, Cecil Oakley Scholarship Fund, University of Oklahoma Foundation, 100 Timberdell Rd., Norman, OK 73019.

Service Details

Saturday, June 28th, 2008 11:00am, First United Methodist Church Bartlesville