Arlen Robert Millikan's Obituary
Arlen was born in Beaver County, in the Oklahoma panhandle. His family was there until the dust bowl forced them to move to Tulsa. He grew up in Dawson where his folks both worked for the Bomber Plant later to be called Douglas. Arlen ran a paper route for many years in order to save up to attend college. He started his college days attending Tulsa University, who took his many years of savings in the first year's, or was it the first semester's tuition? Since he could not pay for any additional classes at TU, he was preparing to get his first call to serve in the Korean War effort. Being the smart young man he was at the time, he decided he would join the Navy rather than wait to get drafted. After going through his initial boot camp and training, he decided life would be much better if he came home over the Christmas holidays and married the love of his life, a tom boy down the street named Ila Chandler. They were married on December 31, 1953 in Tulsa, OK. Rob, Tina and Rusty were born into this happy reunion. Rob was born in Pensacola, Florida. Tina was born on Coronado Island in San Diego Bay, California. Rusty was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma after Arlen completed his time in the Navy. Before starting his long, successful career with IBM, Arlen tried his hand at door-to-door sales selling Kirby vacuums and stainless steel Lo Heat pots and pans, which he continued to use up until he stopped cooking for himself. His IBM career moved he and his family from New York, for training, back to Tulsa, to Bartlesville, and then to Ponca City, Oklahoma. Then they moved to Overland Park, Kansas and finally Manchester, Missouri where all three kids were fortunate to stay long enough to graduate from high school. He then moved the family back to Tulsa in 1976 where they settled and he retired. Ila and Arlen were married for over 53 years before she preceded him in death.
Arlen was a loving husband, dad, granddad, great-granddad, brother and friend. He enjoyed spending time with the family and also dedicated much of his life to all the various congregations he was associated with. He had a servant's heart and served over fifty years as an elder in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Besides his church involvement, he was involved with the Jaycees, helping build houses with Habitat for Humanity and going on medical missions to Guyana, He and Ila loved to bowl and were on several bowling teams everywhere they lived. He enjoyed to travel, and even got to go London to see Big Bend. He spent a lot of time in Branson and going to see the grandkids where ever they might be living.He enjoyed golfing and got to volunteer at a couple of the PGA tournaments that were hosted here at Southern Hills. He also enjoyed going to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival where he enjoyed watching all them rise into the sky. He also helped crew several years and even took a couple of rides in them.
Arlen will be dearly missed by his brother: Jack Millikan and wife Karen; sister-in-laws: Barbara Millikan and Betty Ellison; brother-in-law: Gale Ellison; children: Rob Millikan, Jr. and wife Kathy, Tina Millikan and husband Tom Durham, and Rusty Millikan and wife Lisa; grandchildren: Brad Millikan and wife Kendall, Chandler Durham, Sean Durham; great-grandchildren: Ali, Kiley, Kieran, Kami, Zane, Kirk, and Luke; numerous nieces, nephews; girlfriend: Velda Watson and family; church family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents: John Millikan and Marjorie Williams; brothers: Jamie and Gary Millikan; wife: Ila Carol Millikan; grandson: Jason Millikan; and granddaughter: Brigette Millikan.
Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held 2:00 PM, Sunday, December 04, 2022, at the Jenks Church, 1015 West Main, Jenks, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity in Arlen's honor or you are welcome to go to jenkschurch.org and click on EMC, Everything Must Go where ALL funds will be distributed directly to individuals, family or local organizations.
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