David Holbrook

September 8, 1917 - May 23, 2011 EDMOND David Eugene (Dave) Holbrook was born September 8, 1917 in Ardmore, OK to Charles and Syble Holbrook. His journey ended Monday, May 23 2011, at his home in Edmond with his wife and son by his side. David graduated from Alma High School in 1936 and obtained an Associate's Degree from Murray State College. With certainty of his love for high school sweetheart, Beatrice Patterson, and the uncertainty of war they were married on December 26, 1941 in Duncan, OK. During WWII David was stationed at Ft. Sill where he was a Master Sergeant and instructor of troops in Communications. Their son, David Michael (Mike) was born in 1944. After the war he went to work in the oil industry and excelled in his career as a Drilling Superintendant for Amerada Petroleum Co. Dave was their "wildcatter" and was sent wherever there was exploration. He went to ND to open drilling in the Williston Basin and was on the Iverson discovery well. The family lived there five years, and during that time daughter Mindy was born. From ND he went to Durango, CO where he drilled the discovery gas well for Amerada in the high pressure Dakota Sand and developed the field. In 1956 David was transferred to the Amerada office in Duncan, OK., and in 1965 he moved to Woodward, OK where he was named Superintendant of the Woodward region. Regardless of his address he worked where the company needed him. During his career he drilled wells in OK, TX, LA, OH, WV, NM, CA, ND, SD, WY, MT, KS, and Canada. He spent much time away from home, but there was no place he would rather have been. After his retirement from Amerada he moved to Norman and spent the last years of his career working for AnSon Petroleum Corp. as their operations manager. While David was a loyal and devoted employee his family was the most important thing to him. A man's accomplishments can be listed, but it's hard to explain what's in his heart. To say that David adored his wife is no exaggeration. In the latter years of his career he wrote her a short love note every morning before going to work. He gave his daughter the gems from his company service pins to put in her Pi Phi pin because "you're one of the reasons I worked so hard all those years"; And over 40 years later he still had the small American flag that flew in front of the house while his son was in Viet Nam. An attached note explained its significance. Retirement provided him time to spend working on a beautiful yard and to be with his grandchildren. He was a good neighbor who shared his garden's bounty or placed their newspaper on the porch or put their trashcans back by the house. He was always thoughtful and caring for others. He provided his son and grandsons the example of a devoted family man. His daughter and granddaughters learned from him how much they could be loved. Dementia began to take away much of the David that was known by family and friends, but it didn't take his love or gratitude. He was happy with his life. His faith sustained him, and his wife remained the center of his world. In addition, Dave was a 32nd Degree Mason and an honorary member of the Acacia Fraternity of UCO. David was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Truman, Charles, and James, and sister Carole Brymer, son-in-law David Jones, and grandsons, Benjamin and Elliot Jones. He is survived by his wife Bea of the home; brother Carl; son Mike and wife Pam Holbrook of Edmond; and daughter Mindy Jones of Norman; grandchildren Blake Holbrook and wife Laura, Tyler Holbrook and wife Lindsay, Skye Struckel and husband Jeffrey, Mikel Anne Jones Hunt and husband Garrett; six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held Sunday, June 5, from 2:00-4:00pm at 1216 Territories Dr., Edmond, OK. Funeral arrangements were provided by John M. Ireland Funeral Home and Chapel, Moore, OK.