Melvin Luther Wharton was born on the family farm near Brinkman, Oklahoma on January 19, 1912. He was the son of John and Ruth Delilah (Rhyne) Wharton. He graduated from Brinkman High School in 1929. Mel then attended a Church of Christ college in Cordell, Southwestern at Weatherford and went to Central Teacher's College in Edmond. He played the french horn for the band at Southwestern and at Central. While Mel was at Edmond he was a Church of Christ minister for a church there and also serving for one at Stillwater. He graduated from Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Texas with a B.S. Degree in 1936 and also a B.S. Degree that same year from Oklahoma A. & M. College at Stillwater, Oklahoma. Mel began his teaching career at Geary High School as a science teacher and retired from teaching at Custer in 1942. He was married to Hazel Roberta Ward on November 27, 1938 in Watonga, Oklahoma. In 1942, he went to work as a bookkeeper and telegrapher for the AT&SF Railroad. He became a railroad agent and telegrapher at Lake City, Kansas. In 1949, the family moved to Blackwell where he worked as a telegrapher. In 1962, he became agent in Kingman, Kansas. Then in 1969, the family moved to Woodward. Mel became the railroad agent in Woodward and retired in 1980 after working for the railroad for 38 years.
Mel was a member of the Fifth Street Church of Christ where he served as treasurer for several years. He was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and served as an officer for the local chapter and also served as a runner. He was a member of the Woodward Lions Club and served as secretary for ten years. He was also a member of the Woodward Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors for one term.
Mel was an avid golfer at the Crystal Beach Gold Course.
Mel died Friday, January 3, 2003 at his home. He was 90 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and one daughter, Carolyn Wharton in 1969
Memorial contributions may be given to the Oklahoma Medical Research Roundation or to the Fifth Street Church of Christ Building Fund.
Mel was a member of the Fifth Street Church of Christ where he served as treasurer for several years. He was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and served as an officer for the local chapter and also served as a runner. He was a member of the Woodward Lions Club and served as secretary for ten years. He was also a member of the Woodward Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors for one term.
Mel was an avid golfer at the Crystal Beach Gold Course.
Mel died Friday, January 3, 2003 at his home. He was 90 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and one daughter, Carolyn Wharton in 1969
Memorial contributions may be given to the Oklahoma Medical Research Roundation or to the Fifth Street Church of Christ Building Fund.
Melvin Luther Wharton was born on the family farm near Brinkman, Oklahoma on January 19, 1912. He was the son of John and Ruth Delilah (Rhyne) Wharton. He graduated from Brinkman High School in 1929. Mel then attended a Church of Christ college in Cordell, Southwestern at Weatherford and went to Central Teacher's College in Edmond. He played the french horn for the band at Southwestern and at Central. While Mel was at Edmond he was a Church of Christ minister for a church there and also serving for one at Stillwater. He graduated from Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Texas with a B.S. Degree in 1936 and also a B.S. Degree that same year from Oklahoma A. & M. College at Stillwater, Oklahoma. Mel began his teaching career at Geary High School as a science teacher and retired from teaching at Custer in 1942. He was married to Hazel Roberta Ward on November 27, 1938 in Watonga, Oklahoma. In 1942, he went to work as a bookkeeper and telegrapher for the AT&SF Railroad. He became a railroad agent and telegrapher at Lake City, Kansas. In 1949, the family moved to Blackwell where he worked as a telegrapher. In 1962, he became agent in Kingman, Kansas. Then in 1969, the family moved to Woodward. Mel became the railroad agent in Woodward and retired in 1980 after working for the railroad for 38 years.
Mel was a member of the Fifth Street Church of Christ where he served as treasurer for several years. He was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and served as an officer for the local chapter and also served as a runner. He was a member of the Woodward Lions Club and served as secretary for ten years. He was also a member of the Woodward Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors for one term.
Mel was an avid golfer at the Crystal Beach Gold Course.
Mel died Friday, January 3, 2003 at his home. He was 90 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and one daughter, Carolyn Wharton in 1969
Memorial contributions may be given to the Oklahoma Medical Research Roundation or to the Fifth Street Church of Christ Building Fund.
Mel was a member of the Fifth Street Church of Christ where he served as treasurer for several years. He was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and served as an officer for the local chapter and also served as a runner. He was a member of the Woodward Lions Club and served as secretary for ten years. He was also a member of the Woodward Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors for one term.
Mel was an avid golfer at the Crystal Beach Gold Course.
Mel died Friday, January 3, 2003 at his home. He was 90 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and one daughter, Carolyn Wharton in 1969
Memorial contributions may be given to the Oklahoma Medical Research Roundation or to the Fifth Street Church of Christ Building Fund.
