Rickey Whitehead's Obituary
Rick Whitehead passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of June 18, 2025. He was 73 years old.
Rickey Allen Whitehead was born October 5, 1951 to Richard and Josephine Whitehead. A life-long resident of the Tulsa area, he graduated from Rogers High School in 1969 and married Rita Mae Wands in 1975. They would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this November. Rick and Rita had 2 children, Regina and Ryan, then later adopted Vikki in 2000.
Rick grew up hunting, fishing, racing dirt bikes and playing baseball. After he married Rita, they often spent weekends on road trips on his motorcycle. In 1977, Rick and Rita opened Drive Shafts, Inc. While many questioned how they could work and be together 24 hours a day, they often shrugged and said they couldn’t imagine it any other way. When Regina was born, Rick said that he had all the things he always wanted - a family with a wife and child and a successful business, but something felt missing. He found that something when he accepted Jesus. And like everything else in life, once he decided, he was all in. Rick and Rita centered their lives around the church. For over 35 years, Rick led, loved and served the people of Christview Christian Church. Through ups and downs, there are few who have walked through the doors of CCC who don’t have a story of how he helped them at one time or another. Rick’s favorite Bible verse was James 4:17. “So when you know the good things you should do and don't do them, you sin.” It wasn’t enough for him to do good things now and then; it was wrong to not do something that needed to be done. He lived that sentiment, taught it to his children, grandchildren and any who had the honor of walking through life with him.
More than just his own kids know what a good father “Daddy Rick” was because he loved deep and wide. But it has often been said that more than any other role he played, Rick was born to be “Papa.” No matter the cost or distance, he attended every cheer competition, soccer game, swim meet, dance recital and gymnastics meet. From hospital stays to rides in the Hustler to grandparents’ day in a hurricane…no request was too big or too small; no sacrifice too great.
Since retirement, between (or because of) trips with grandkids, Rick and Rita got to see the world, traveling to various countries and continents with family and church friends. Rick loved big, gave generously and reached far, and we all have a better picture of how God loves because we had the privilege of being loved by him.
Rick is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Josephine Whitehead and his step-sister, Christy Ramsey. He is survived by his wife, Rita, step-mother, Patricia Whitehead, brother, Russ Whitehead and his wife, Kelli, daughter, Regina and her husband, David, son, Ryan and his wife, Liz, daughter, Vikki and her husband, David, grandchildren: Zoe, Brynna, Nicolas, Emaleigh, Madelyn, Hunter, and JJ along with countless more who knew him as Daddy Rick, Uncle Rickey or Papa.
Rick will be remembered and family will receive guests at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, OK on June 23, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at Christview Christian Church on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, please Donate to Christview Church.
Link: https://give.tithe.ly Christview2525 S. Garnett, Tulsa, OK
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