Betty Funderburg

Betty Ellen Brinkley Funderburg was born July 15, 1928, to Earl and Ada Wilson Brinkley in Wilburton and went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Feb. 28, 2021, with her best friend, her daughter, by her side.

Celebration of life service was Thursday, March 4, at the Hennessey Cemetery Pavilion with the Rev. Jimmy Berkenbile officiating. Arrangements were by Cordry-Gritz Funeral Home.

Betty attended grade school at Patterson and Degnan in Wilburton and then attended and graduated from Wilburton High School.

She studied at Eastern Oklahoma State College before marrying her high school sweetheart, Jack Funderburg, on April 6, 1946. They made their home in Wilburton for the following nine years.

During that time Jack was elected as tax assessor for Latimer County; however, he was unable to finish his first term when he joined the 143rd and was sent to Germany, so Betty stepped in and finished for him.

She then ran for and was elected to a second term as Latimer County tax assessor.

During this time in Wilburton, Betty’s first daughter, Jacqueline, “Jackie,” was born.

Betty and her family moved to Lacy in 1955 where Jack had taken his first teaching/coaching position.

While in Lacy, they welcomed their second daughter Patricia, “Patty.”

Betty and her family then moved to Hennessey in 1956 where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Betty was a member of Union Chapel Christian Union Church for 62 years. She served as bookkeeper for the church for many years and taught Sunday school ranging in ages from grade school to adult classes.

She took her Sunday school classes very seriously and was an avid student of the Bible.

She also worked as a bookkeeper at Jack H. Choate Oil Company for several years. She was excellent with numbers and enjoyed work, but according to her, her greatest joy and most important job was making a loving and happy home.

Betty loved her Lord, her family and all God’s creatures great and small. She was a wonderful wife and mother who treasured her gardening, cooking, traveling to the mountains, shopping with her girls, caring for her cats and participating in her church.

Preceding Betty in death were her parents; her devoted husband, Jack; her daughter, Jackie; a son-in-law; nine brothers-in-law; seven sisters-in-law and many other loving relatives and friends.

Betty’s legacy will live on in the steadfast love of her family and all those she touched through her church and community.

Her daughter, her dearest and best friend, will carry Betty’s love and wisdom in her heart forever.

“Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your Master!” -Matthew 25:23

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association with the funeral home serving as custodian.