Ralph Dale Hartman, son of Arthur and Ruby Hartman, was born June 23, 1933, on his family’s farm south of Berlin, Oklahoma where his family had lived since 1900. He passed away June 27, 2016. Ralph attended school at Doxey and Berlin. After graduating from Berlin High School in 1951, he enrolled at Harding College, a Christian College in Searcy, Arkansas, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1955.
While fulfilling his Selective Service at Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, Indiana, Ralph was introduced to a young lady by the name of Nancy Randolph. They were married on December 27, 1958 in Oklahoma City.
Ralph served on the Board of Director of the Beckham County Farm Bureau and later as President. He accepted employment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in May of 1970. He worked as ASCS County Executive Director of Latimer County, Ellis County and Roger Mills County, retiring after 35 years of service in 2005. Ralph was a member of the Kiwanis Club in Arnett and Cheyenne, serving one term as President of each club.
Throughout his years of USDA employment, Ralph and his family continued to live and work on the family farm, where he was born. He liked to mention that although this might indicate to some that he never ventured far from home; he was, in fact, a world traveler, having seen parts of four continents, twenty-three countries, forty-nine states and all seventy-seven Oklahoma counties.
Ralph was an active member of the Church of Christ where he was involved in teaching Bible classes, singing at many funerals, fill-in preaching and serving as an elder. He was particularly pleased that all five of his children became Christians.
In the summer of 2013, after experiencing some serious health problems, Ralph and Nancy decided it was time to move closer to their children. They sold the farm, on which Ralph was born and, on which he and Nancy had lived for fifty-five years of their married life, and moved to Siloam Springs, Arkansas where two of their four surviving children were living.
Ralph was preceded in death by his oldest son, Tim, an infant grandson, Noah Hartman, his brother-in-law, Morris Thurman, both parents and an infant sister. He is survived by his wife Nancy of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; four children and their spouses: Sharon and her husband Kevin Suitor, of Owasso, Oklahoma; Doug and his wife, Jill, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; Jerry and his wife, Michelle of Weatherford, Oklahoma; Carol and her husband, Dr. Carl Duncan, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas and one daughter-in-law, Audra (Hartman) Cavanaugh of Ardmore, Oklahoma. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Madelyn, Elizabeth and Bennett Suitor; Matt and Marc Hartman and their wives Taylor and Tina; Kaylee, Amanda and Joshua Hartman; Hannah, Sarah and Leah Hartman; and Kyler, Kambryn and Avah Duncan; also by his sister, Claribel, and her husband, Dr. Jay Norman of Blanchard, Oklahoma; two nieces, along with many other relatives and friends.
The family will greet guests at the Whinery-Savage Funeral Home in Elk City on Friday, July 1, 2016 from 6:30 p.m. till 8:00 p.m.
Services will be Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Second & Adams Church of Christ, Elk City, OK.
Interment Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, Oklahoma
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