Mike Arbuckle

Michael Anthony “Mike” Arbuckle, 74, of Kingston and formerly of Blanchard, passed away from complications from knee surgery, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Texoma Medical Center in Dennison, Texas.  The son of William Donald Arbuckle and Juanita Faye (Baumwart) Arbuckle, Mike was born in Oklahoma City on April 17, 1951.

Mike lived in Oklahoma City until about 4th grade and attended a Catholic school.  He moved to Dibble after that  and graduated from Dibble High School.  After a particular Blanchard football game, he met Betty Jeane Wilson.  They were married on May 29, 1970, and just celebrated 55 years of marriage.  Mike attended trade school and worked as a mechanic for a while and later worked his way to area manager for several trucking companies.  He retired from Swift Transportation. He spent 20 years with Rocor Transportation and previous companies included Prime Inc., Park Corp., Pacific Inland Transport, Mistletoe Express, Lee Way Motor, and Boecking Machinery.  Mike served on the Great Plains Vo-Tech Board of Directors.

One of Mike’s passions and pastimes was boating and fishing.  He opened his own business called Mike’s Striper Guide Service at Lake Texoma which he ran for almost 20 years.  His love for lakes and fishing began when he was young.  He and Betty traveled to Lake Texoma part time for several years and made it their permanent home in 2017.  Mike also loved OU Football and tailgating before games.  Because of Betty’s position with OU, she and Mike were able to travel with the team quite often.  He had fond memories of these trips that included many stories with famous players, including the Boz.  

Mike’s hobbies included woodworking and coaching his boys in Little League football and baseball.  But one of his favorites was car shows.  He and his boys would go to car shows where he proudly would display his ’65 Chevy C-10, which took four years of painstaking great memories to build.  He loved his hot rods, and you could say he is survived by his “Beloved Eleanor.”  One of his prized pastimes was his grandchildren.  The family laughs as they recall him, scaring his grandchildren with stories of vampire cows.  Mike’s presence will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. 

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, William and Juanita Arbuckle; two sisters, Mary Donna Crisp and Marty Huffman; and maternal and paternal grandparents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Betty Arbuckle; two sons, Michael Dale Arbuckle and Jenna of Shawnee and Chad Arbuckle and wife GayLynn of Blanchard; grandchildren, Joseph Arbuckle, Skyler Arbuckle, Jonathon Arbuckle and Hannah, Justin Arbuckle and wife Paula and Kailey Truman and husband Lucas; six great grandchildren, Lily, Melody, Michaley, Leo, Sawyer, and Vincent; brothers, Dan Arbuckle and wife Donita and Buddy Arbuckle of Washington State; sisters, Marilyn Sudbury and husband Rick of Duncan and Carolyn Chapman and husband Randy of Cole; nieces, nephews and many more loving family members and friends. 

Viewing for Mike will be from 3:00 – 8:00 PM, Sunday, December 21, 2025, at the funeral home, with the family present from 3-5 to greet friends.  A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 22, 2025, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Blanchard.   Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard.  Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.eisenhourfh.com.