Norman Milton Eslinger's Obituary
Norman Milton Eslinger was born April 17, 1928 and went home on August 5, 2022. He was born in Fort Smith, AR; was raised in McAlester; worked and raised a family in Stillwater; then spent retirement years in the Tulsa area. He served in the US Army for two-years in the Panama Canal Zone.
Norman was preceded in death by LoReece, his loving wife of sixty-six years; parents John and Mary Eslinger; and sister Zoe Mundt and brother Glenn. He is survived by brother Eugene of Dillon, MT; children David Eslinger and his wife, Cheryl of Collinsville and Janna Eslinger of Owasso; two grandchildren Byron Eslinger and his wife, Katey and Bryce Eslinger and his wife, Rebeka; two great-grandchildren Adriana and Austin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.
Norman’s nearly unforgettable smile and infectious laughter brightened many, many rooms and tables. But beneath the light-hearted demeanor he was serious, careful, and he gave every task his full effort without ever cutting-corners. He was the first electrician admitted to the electrical union in Stillwater in the 1940’s and during his career he managed the electrical construction of many of the large industrial plants and OSU campus projects in Stillwater.
As a young man Norman gave his heart to Christ and as a result his life was forever changed. He taught many Sunday School classes, served on countless boards and committees, and played his violin (and sometimes harmonica) in church orchestras for many years. Perhaps his most notable ministry was the donation of thousands of hours of work to maintain and to manage construction projects at several churches in both Stillwater and Tulsa over a sixty-year period.
If you were looking for Norman – there was a good chance he was driving his car or truck. He and his family drove a few million miles over forty-years attending church in Tulsa while living in Stillwater; he loved to travel with LoReece to numerous vacation sites throughout the United States; and no matter how far the drive, he was always ready to give his expert help on his family’s various projects. However, Norman’s singular focus was always on an eternal destination and now he has safely arrived. He is in that place of health and reunion, the place where his Lord is the light – now our dear Daddy, Brother, Grandpa, and BooBoo is finally and forever Home.
The visitation will be 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, August 18, 2022, at Floral Haven Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Friday, August 19, 2022, at Central Church of the Nazarene, 7291 E 81st St, Tulsa, OK 74133
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