> Johnston Co. Ok Obits Forum > A new message, "SULLIVAN," was posted by Wendy Barry on Sat, 12 Dec 1998 > > --- > NAME: Wendy Barry > EMAIL: WendyGayle@aol.com > SURNAMES: Sullivan > DATE: Dec 12 1998 > QRYTEXT: SULLIVAN Tommy Benton, born on August 26, 1925 to Tom F. and Sadie Wilder Sullivan at Fitzhugh, Oklahoma, died May 29, 1996, at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of the home; and their four children, Michael of McAllen, Texas, Pat of Oklahoma City, Richard of Carrollton, Texas, and Scott, his wife, Cathy, and their son, Ben's grandson, Benton James Sullivan, of Atoka County. The seven sisters who survive their one brother are Dorothy Sullivan of Ada, Mildred Klepper of Purcell, Lucille York, Betty Denham, and Bobby Peters, all of Fitz- hugh, Phyllis Sullivan of Eufaula, and Frankye Green of Midland, Texas. In-laws who survive are Melvin Klepper, G.D. Peters, Jerry Green, Don and Roberta Jones, Ed and Sue Jones, and Bob Jones. Also surviving are 11 nieces, 9 nephews, 13 grandnieces, 15 grandnephews, and many other people who have been touched by his life. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Sadie Sullivan; brothers-in-law, Leo Denham and Buddy York; Betty's parents, H.E. and Alma Lee Jones; sister-in-law, Edwina Jones. Upon graduation from Fitzhugh High School in 1943, he entered Naval Aviation Cadet Training, after which he graduated from East Central State College in 1948. He earned his Masters Degree at the University of Oklahoma in 1953. As a teacher, coach, and administrator, his public school career spanned 14 years, all at the Wapanucka schools, beginning in Aug 1948 and ending in July 1962, when he joined the State Department of Education in Oklahoma City. In 1966, he moved to the U.S. Office of Education, Region 5 in Dallas, Texas where his career climaxed as Regional Administrator of Headstart programs in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Throughout his 40 year career, Tommy's interest in and support for public schools never dimmed. He never stopped believing that "the teacher" is the key, and he hired teachers into administrative positions whenever he could, believing that if one could manage a room full of kids successfully, one could do anything! In 1988, Tommy retired to the Wilson community in Atoka County, Oklahoma, where he and Betty have operated a small working ranch for 10 years. He was also active in the Wilson Baptist Church, the Wilson Community Volunteer Fire Department, and in community development projects. His family was the main focus of his life. He took great pride in his children, his daughter-in-law, and his grandson. Visitation will be Friday evening at the Atoka Funeral Home. Services will be held there Saturday, June 1st, at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Wapanucka. > > > This is an automatically-generated notice. If you wish to respond to this > message, please post your response directly to the Johnston Co. Ok Obits > Forum: > > <http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ok/JohnstonObits> > > Thank you! > dmorgan@efn.org --- David W. Morgan --- Honolulu Hawaii Barber Family --- http://members.xoom.com/barberfamily/ Beckham Co OK ----- http://www.rootsweb.com/~okbeckha/ Limestone Co TX -- http://www.rootsweb.com/~txlimest/