Lloyd Lee Christensen's Obituary
Lloyd Lee Christensen, age 100, passed from this life, March 21, 2015, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lloyd Lee Christensen was born on the day that World War I began to take its course ~ August 14, 1914. The son of John and Pearl Christensen, grandson of Jorgen and Anna Christensen and Will B. and Mary Mildred Gish (all pioneer families of Thomas, Oklahoma), Lloyd graduated from Thomas High School 1929 at age 15. He met his wife, Lucille Rose of Weatherford, Oklahoma on the same day that he became an ordained minister in 1931, and he counts 65 years of happiness they could share from that day. He received his Bachelor’s degree in 1934 at Southwestern State University, where he had competed in track as a distance runner and majored in chemistry, physics, elementary education, secondary education, American policy, and American political parties. He completed graduate studies at OU and OSU, and taught in Oklahoma public schools for 12 years (serving as principal for 9 of those years). In 1941 he became a professor of chemistry in the Army Special Training Program at OSU. Beginning in the war years and up to 1962 he was involved in research developing synthetic fuels (Gasoline) and other synthetic chemicals. From 1957 to 1975, he worked for Amoco Corporation, where he was responsible for paint chemistry worldwide. He supervised the development of all kinds of coatings for oil pipelines, and it was a particular achievement to find the right enamel for the Alaska pipeline. From 1962 Lloyd and Lucille also served in the transitional or interim ministry, substituting in numerous churches around Oklahoma. After his retirement in 1975, they devoted all of their time to the pulpit and music in church service. After three successful careers in teaching, ministry, and science, Lloyd embarked on his fourth career at the Grief Recovery Institute in Tulsa, where he is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. He said, “I’ve dedicated the rest of my life to the science of helping people learn for themselves how they can heal the sadness which we all experience at some time in our unique, individual lives.” Lloyd is survived by sister: Bernadine Didier and husband, Bert of Oregon; 12 nieces, 4 nephews, and their families; numerous great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews; and 3 great-great-great nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents: John and Pearl Christensen; his wife: Lucille Christensen; sister: Mildred and her husband, Wilbur Jones, sister: Iva and her husband, Carroll Diltz, brother: Galen Christensen, infant brother and sister: Irvin and Ina Christensen, and brother: Joy and his wife Lucile Christensen; nieces and nephews: Wilbur (Chuck) Jones, Marilyn Jones, David Diltz, John Didier, Gwendolyn Christensen; and great-nephew: Jan Ederer.A celebration of life service will be held 12:30 P.M., Monday, March 23, 2015, Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
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