Ralph McGregor Pointer Jr's Obituary
Ralph McGregor Pointer, Jr., a resident of Broken Arrow, passed away February 27, 2026 at the age of 93. He was born May 15, 1932 in Berkeley, MO. His father’s career in the airline industry took his childhood family all over the United States, including St. Louis, Chicago, Long Island and eventually Tulsa.
While his family was in New York during WWII, his father often brought home active duty personnel for dinner and to stay overnight with his family. These experiences shaped what would later become a passion for caring for active duty military and veterans.
In Tulsa, Ralph graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1950. He went on to play football for Oklahoma A&M. Before graduating, he took a semester off to save up some money during which time he was drafted to serve in the military. He proudly served as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army during the Korean War, then returned to his school which by then was Oklahoma State University.
While he was finishing his B.A. in Geology, he met Jene Pointer in Tulsa, OK, and they married in 1960. They had been married 61 years when Jene passed in 2021. During those 61 years, Ralph and Jene followed his career in the Petroleum industry all over the United States, including Texas, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wyoming, and finally back to Oklahoma. He worked on the Nevada Test Site and the Alaskan Pipeline. For many years, Ralph and Jene were active in the SPE-AIME, the SPWLA, and the Petroleum Club in Casper, WY and Tulsa, OK. His love for rocks never subsided, and he recently found a new group of friends to share his collection and adventures with as a member of the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society.
Like so many in Oklahoma, Ralph experienced a forced early retirement when the oil boom went bust in the 1980s. He then delivered for Schwan’s Home Delivery all over the Tulsa area, but left that job at Jene’s insistence after he experienced his second robbery. He then went to work for Lowe’s Home Improvement, where he helped open the Broken Arrow Store, and loved meeting and helping people all over town with their projects.
Ralph is a proud US Army Veteran, and Life member of the VFW, DAV, and American Legion. As a member of VFW Post 10887, he served as Post Commander for 26 years. He and Jene worked tirelessly on the Woman's War Memorial in Broken Arrow, and the Broken Arrow Veterans Center. He was honored to receive the Jefferson Award by the City of BA for his work. Ralph was an active member of the First Methodist Church of Broken Arrow for nearly 43 years, and along with Jene loved serving in missions, music, and Bible study.
Ralph Pointer passed peacefully in his home, with his daughter holding his hand. This relatively quiet passing was unexpected to anyone who knew him. Not only had he survived combat, but also a worksite electrocution, an armed robbery as a delivery driver, being run over by a semi-truck in a Malibu, several other serious auto collisions, and a fractured skull after falling off the back of a Lowe’s truck.
Ralph loved to hunt deer, elk, moose and small game, and fish for bass, trout, and catfish. His travels with Jene took them to many places including all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Israel, and on a 50th anniversary cruise to the Grand Caymans.
He retired at age 87 to care for his beloved wife, Jene, and continued to serve in the VFW. He was always up for an adventure. He was well known for his hard work and self sacrifice. Those who worked with him in any capacity described him as a driving force. He loved his family, and focused on being a good provider.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Loretta and Ralph Pointer, Sr., two sisters, his wife Jene Pointer, and his son, Ralph McGregor Pointer, III. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Pointer.
Family and Friends will be honoring Ralph at a private Memorial service.
In lieu of food or flowers, please consider financially supporting the Broken Arrow VFW and VVA in their joint project to refurbish mobility devices for area Veterans: VFW Post 10887, 1117 S. Main St., Broken Arrow, OK 74012.
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