Clarence B. Dunbar

Clarence B. Dunbar, 89, died Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Clarehouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his loving daughter, Debbie and close friend, Craig S. Jones, Sr. at his side. Arrangements are under the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater. Services will be held Monday, February 26, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Larry Smith will be officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2018 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm with family greeting guest from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the funeral home.

He was born November 1, 1928 to Bill and Maggie (Blear) Dunbar in Gladewater, Texas. He was in raised Texas and after graduating Gladewater High School, he followed his two older brothers to work in the oilfields. He met his future wife, Oleta Ray on Thanksgiving Day and after dating only 3 weeks, they married in San Angelo, TX on January 23, 1949 where he had recently taken a new job. A year later, at the age of 21, he had a near fatal accident when the oil derrick he was on collapsed. He fell approximately 90 feet breaking his, neck, back and ankle and was in traction for over 93 days. Oleta, an LPN at the time, helped take care of him at this time. Clarence followed the oil fields for 15 years more and always said it was his favorite job he ever had. After that he worked for Meadow Gold, Swan Rubber (14 years) and then was an apartment manager for 12 years.

He’s known for his sense of humor, he was quick to lend a helping hand and when he baked pies or brownies, you could be sure that he would walking around giving them away to someone. He also never met a stranger and would start up a conversation with anyone as easily as if he had known them all his life. He also loved walking his dog, Baxter, until he passed away last year.

Prior to moving to Tulsa, he and Oleta attended Sunnybrook Christian Church for many years and he continued to attend after her death. There they had and made many friends. For the past three years, he’s enjoyed the services and music held at Woodland Terrace in Tulsa officiated by Pastor Larry Smith and song leader, Larry Lundstrum.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Oleta, his son, Bill Dunbar, two brothers, Jimmy Dunbar and Raymond Dunbar, one sister, Lois Jenkins and sister-in-law, Mildred Dunbar.

He is survived by a daughter, Debbie Jones of Broken Arrow; daughter-in-law, Linda (Dunbar) Garmy and her husband, Philippe of Paris, France; grandchildren, Craig Jones and his wife, Mindy of Louisville, KY; and Matthew Dunbar, Mark Dunbar and Paige Dunbar of Seattle, WA; one brother, Jack Dunbar and his wife, Ruth Anne, with children, Billy and Jacque; two sisters, Wanda (Dunbar) Wheeler and her husband, Ercel, with children, Becky and Steve and Huleen (Dunbar) Walker, with children Dennis Lane and Otis Ray; brother-in-law Tommy Ray and his wife, Jan of Longview, TX; nephew, Chris Ray and his wife, Juliette with children, Charlie, Samantha and Luke of Helotes, TX ; other nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made in memory of Clarence to Clarehouse Hospice 7617 S. Mingo Rd., Tulsa, OK 74133 .