Transcribed Obituary for Okmulgee County, Oklahoma



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Transcribed & Submitted by: Shelley Lynch		

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Reverend Willis B. Baldridge, 71, a resident of Okmulgee, 

died Thursday, April 13, 2006 in Okmulgee. He was born Monday, 

July 9, 1934 to Wilson Almond and Hattie (Rice) Baldridge in 

Okemah, Oklahoma. On December 27, 1965, he married Louise 

Brisco in Poteau, Oklahoma. 

	

Pastor Baldridge served the church in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma from 

October of 1971 to October of 1979. On October 14, 1979, he 

started 20 years of service to his Lord and the people of Okmulgee 

with a move to Crosstown Pentecostal Holiness Church at 5th and 

Kern Street in Okmulgee. He was active in establishing Christmas

Blessing Day, Back to School Manna Day and served as President 

of Okmulgee Ministerial Alliance for eight years. He was active 

in the building of the new “Crosstown “ Church that opened February 

3, 1983 and the new Fellowship Hall in 1987. 

	

In October of 1999, Reverend Baldridge retired from Crosstown due 

to health reasons. He took time to rest and take care of his health for 

the next two years. In October of 2002, Reverend Baldridge answered 

a call to become the Pastor of the Grandview Tabernacle in Muskogee, 

Oklahoma. During his Pastorate, the Church has grown to well over a 

hundred members. At the time of his illness and death, he was serving 

as Pastor of Grandview Tabernacle in Muskogee, Oklahoma. 

	

Survivors include: wife, Louise Baldridge of the home; one son: 

Keith Baldridge and wife, Cathy of Okmulgee; three daughters: 

Rebecca McEvers and husband, Rick of Nuyaka; Helen Raye Dixon 

and husband, Fred of Winchester and Rachael Pool of Okmulgee; 

two brothers: Junior Baldridge and Floyd Baldridge and wife, Joyce, 

all of Okmulgee; two sisters: Rushey Wright of Okmulgee and 

Walsie Baldridge of Sand Springs; four grandchildren: Jeromy 

Baldridge, Tonya Wong, Dyrl Dixon and Zachery Pool; four great 

grandchildren: Aiden and Seaghan Wong; D.J. and Sammantha Dixon. 

	

Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2006 at the 

Grandview Tabernacle in Muskogee with Bishop Randell O. Drake, 

Dr. Dan Beller and Reverend Mick Snider officiating. Burial will 

follow the service at the Okmulgee Cemetery under the direction of

 the Shurden-Kelley Funeral Home of Okmulgee. 

	

Pallbearers will be Jim McClendon, Carlisle Mabrey III, Mike Bailey, 

Eddie Ausbrooks, Dr. Dennis Taylor and Dr. Jerry Nick. 

	

Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the 

Kelley Chapel in Okmulgee.