Delbert Vanderpool's Obituary
Delbert Vanderpool, 94 of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed from this life on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born December 16, 1923 in Welling, Oklahoma, a son of Eli Valentine Vanderpool and Nancy Lizabeth Gregory Vanderpool Caldwell. Delbert served in the United States Army and was a welder for American Airlines.My dad loved to garden, hunt, fish, and weld. When dad was growing up, these were life skills needed to survive; rabbits and squirrels were used as extra meat to feed his family. Some of my greatest memories with my dad were those spent learning from him. Those skills and passions my dad had were passed down to me; all the knowledge I have on gardening or hunting are from him.I remember going camping often as a kid, dad loved camping which meant the whole family came, whether you liked it or not! My dad loved to joke around and tease everybody but this particular time, he got some pay back. Us kids were riding in the back of the camper while my dad and mom were driving the truck. My sisters and I started to get really car sick so my dad pulled over and let my mom drive so he could ride in the camper because he didn’t think it was as bad as we were saying it was. He kept giving us a hard time, saying we had a nice bed back there to relax and how we shouldn’t be getting sick. Not too long after, we started driving again, dad was dizzy and so sick and quickly understood how easy it was to get sick back there! We couldn’t get my mom to pull over quick enough to let us out.Dad loved his family and helping others. He valued being involved in our church and instilled this in us as kids; we were there anytime the doors were open.These last few years have been hard, it became harder on dad to hear and understand what was going on, his body was failing and his heart was broken. He missed my mom so much and has been longing for the day to see her again. Losing my dad is hard but our family finds comfort knowing that he is in a new body, able to hear like never before, and with the love of his life again, along with many other family members and friends who have passed over the years.Delbert is survived by one son, Gerald Vanderpool and wife Linda of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two daughters, Phyllis Lower and husband John of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Wanda Harris and husband Garry of Nixa, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Tanya, Bryan, Shana, Eric, Jason, Kristen and Chad; several great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson, Preston; and brother, Bert Vanderpool of Owasso, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Geraldine Vanderpool, four sisters and three brothers.Funeral services will be held at 3:00pm on Friday, September 21, 2018 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at Floral Haven Funeral Home.
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