Raymond Eugene "Gene" Witzel Sr.

1924 - 2011

Mr. Raymond Eugene "Gene" Witzel Sr., of Broken Arrow and formerly of Bartlesville, died at 1:05 A.M. Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Integris Hospice House in Oklahoma City.
Funeral services for Mr. Witzel will be held at 2 P.M. Thursday, March 10, 2011 in the Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rik Marion of the Village United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery where full military rites will be accorded by the James H. Teel American Legion Post # 105, Funeral services and interment will be under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
A memorial fund has been established to the Integris Hospice House, 13920 Quailbrook Drive, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73162.
Mr. Witzel was born at Wann, Oklahoma on May 18, 1924 the son of Laverne and Lena Witzel. He grew up and received his education in Bartlesville until entering the United States Navy at the age of 16 in 1941. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor who was a Gunner's Mate, shooting down two Japanese planes during the Pearl Harbor attack. He served continuously in the Navy until his Honorable Discharge on July 31, 1961. Mr. Witzel was married to Anna Lee Brunsteter on September 9, 1944 in Bartlesville. They made their home at various locations during Mr. Witzel's military career. Following his military discharge as a Chief Petty Officer, they came to Bartlesville to make their home in 1961 where he was Vice President of Home and Peoples Savings & Loan Association from 1961 until 1979. They moved to Tulsa in 1979 and he was Vice President of Republic Financial Corporation there from 1979 until 1982 and Vice President of Town and Country Bank in Tulsa from 1982 until 1984. In 1985 he became an independent appraiser and they made their home in Broken Arrow. He and Mrs. Witzel also spent winters in Florida for over 20 years. Mrs. Witzel preceded him in death on October 7, 2005 and he continued his home in Broken Arrow since that time. He was a past member of the Bartlesville Masonic Lodge # 284 and the Tulsa Akdar Shrine Temple and the Bartlesville Lions Club. He was also a member of the Society of Real Estate Appraiser in Chicago, the Employee Relocation Council in Washington, D.C., and Past President of Society of Real Estate Appraisers Chapter #179. He won many golf tournaments representing the Navy and as a civilian.
Mr. Witzel is survived by one son, Randy Witzel and his wife, Kathryn of Oklahoma City and one grandson, Trey Witzel of Oklahoma City. In addition to Mrs. Witzel he was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Max Witzel.