Patrick Looper

Patrick (Pat) Morgan Looper, died at the age of 73 on May 23, 2010, in Odessa, Texas. Pat handled his struggle against cancer with an uncommon grace, never angry, always appreciative of those who were helping him. Pat was born in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma on March 17, 1937, to Mary Mildred (Morgan) and Elwood E. Looper. He attended school at Central High in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Throughout his life, Pat was always proud to be an Okie from Muskogee. Pat married Barbara Breece immediately after graduation from High School. They had three children together, Steve, Dana and Danny. Pat began his career in High School as a machinist for Coburn Manufacturing and eventually full time at Callery Chemical and for his father in law at Modern Machine Shop. In 1962, he moved his family to Brownsville, Texas where he became a maintenance supervisor for Union Carbide. Pat and his family moved to Odessa, Texas in 1964 when he became a maintenance supervisor for Rexall Chemical. In 1968, he and his partners Edgar Beason and Ralph Breece formed Centriflo Pump and Machine. They were great partners, always commenting that "One couldn't make it without the other". During this time, Pat also got his first taste of ranching when he and Ed bought a 1300 acre ranch in Lampasas. After selling it in the late 1980s, Pat always vowed to ranch again. When "Breece" and Ed retired, Pat continued to own and operate Centriflo for many years as a premier pump repair specialty shop known throughout the United States. Although Pat was not a degreed engineer, he built a reputation for designing unique improvements to existing products, improving efficiencies for equipment throughout the oilfield. He was a perfectionist. His children, employees, and customers came to know that there was "A Right Way, A Wrong Way and a Pat Looper Way". In 2002, Pat sold Centriflo to Sulzer Pumps and once again became a rancher in Santa Anna, Texas. In 1992, Pat married "the love of his life" Sandra Elkins. They have had 18 wonderful years together, which have included working together at Centriflo and on the ranch, traveling, building homes, and being together every day. Pat was a member of the Board of Directors of Texas Commerce Bank and a past President of Odessa Country Club. Pat and Sandy are both members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He loved to hunt, play golf (he was a member of the "hole in one" club), and above all else, watch the University of Oklahoma Sooners play ball. Through his generosity with his airplane, OU coaches were able to travel for many years to recruit star players to become Sooners. Patrick is survived by his wife, Sandra; 2 sons, Steve Looper of Odessa, Danny Looper and his wife Carla of Keller, Texas and daughter, Dana Wheeler and her husband Jimmy of Muskogee, Oklahoma; 5 grandchildren; Steven Blackwell of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Christopher Looper of McKinney, Texas and Casey Looper of Fort Worth, Texas, Morgan Looper and Taylor Looper of Midland, Texas; one great granddaughter Charlotte Blackwell of Tulsa, Oklahoma, one brother, Charles Looper and wife Billie of Duncan, Oklahoma, one sister, Celeste Upton of Odessa, brother in-law Burman Elkins and wife Connie of Midland, Texas, brother in-law Cecil Elkins and wife Jewell of Brownwood, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews. Pat is also survived by his King Charles Spaniel "Monte" and his juvenile delinquent Chihuahua "Okie". Pat is predeceased by his mother and father, his sister Sybil Daniel of Tucson, Arizona, his sister in-law B.J. Wilson of Brownwood, Texas, and the mother of his children Barbara Posey of Wagoner, Oklahoma. Each of us has a legacy on this earth: Pat wanted to be remembered for his honesty and integrity. Visitation will be held at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors at 4635 Oakwood Drive, Odessa, TX from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. The funeral for Pat Looper will take place on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 2:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Odessa, Texas with Rev. Bob Sams officiating. Pallbearers will be Ed Beason, Danny Looper, Chris Looper, Morgan Looper, Steve Looper and Bob Keating. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ken Dean, Woody Gregory, Bro Hill, Michael Courtney, Harvey Page, Neal Marshall, Ray Stoker, Harold Battenfield, Raymond Ford, and the past employees of Centriflo Pump and Machine. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, immediately following the service. The family would like to thank Home Hospice, especially Sonya and Stacey for their love and care for Pat and the family. A special love goes to Ken and Peggy Dean for their support and kind loving deeds. We wish to thank our many friends for helping us through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center in Odessa, Texas, or any charity of your choice. Services are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. WE LOVE YOU DADDY.