BOB HARPER

BOB HARPER Funeral services for Bob Harper are scheduled for Friday, November 14 at 10 a.m. at the Craddock Memorial Chapel with Pastor Bruce Kirby officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. at Craddock Funeral Home. Billy Bob Harper was born April 25, 1934, to Cora (Akers) and Claude Harper in Wilson, OK. He passed from this life on November 10, 2025, at the age of 91. Bob married the former Joan Volino on June 15, 1955, in Ardmore. In 1961 they became members of the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore. Bob was a 1953 graduate of Plainview High School and a first-generation college graduate. He was a veteran in the U.S. Army and proudly served is country with 2 years ROTC at Murray State College, 2 years active duty stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX, and 2 years active reserves in Ardmore. He holds degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, and Murray State College. He began his teaching and coaching career at Earlsboro in Pottawatomie County in 1961. Bob then taught and coached in Verden in Grady County from 1962 through 1964, and finally to Plainview in 1964 as the coach of the boys and girls program where he served until 1974. He then became principal of the Middle School until his retirement in 1988. One of Bob's most meaningful goals was "molding young people for future success". He did this with a firm but congenial spirit. Bob had an enviable record during his coaching career. He loved his kids and they loved him. Bob was an avid sports fan. It didn't matter what sport it was, he and Joan were always together. He loved to watch his granddaughter Jessie Gordon, run track and field and made many trips from border-to-border and coast-to-coast to watch her run when she was in junior high, high school, and the University of Arkansas. Fishing was his all-time favorite, come rain, snow, whatever he was ready to fish. Bob and Dale Higgs, his fishing partner, won the 1995 crappiethon held in Tennessee. Bob had a big heart and was so willing to volunteer and help others in any way he could. He and Joan were volunteers on a Rio Bravo, Mexico, trip where the church built casatas for families without homes. The only pay for building these was to see the thanks and gratitude on their faces by just having a one room structure they could call home. Bob spent many work days at Crosspoint Camp where he loved to go so much. He and Joan have been on their walks to Emmaus at this site and were members of the Emmaus Community. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Joan Harper; his parents, Claude and Cora Harper; mother and father-in-law, Joe and Reaburn Volino; granddaughter, Candace Harper Hice; brother-in-law, Carroll Volino; sister and brother-in-law, Aphilia Mae and her husband Joe Higgins; brothers and sisters-in-law Virgil and Betty Harper, Earl and Gladys, and Ralph Harper; and sister, Alita Faye. He is survived by his daughter, Kelly Gordon and Julie McGill; son, Chris Harper; grandchildren, Jessie Rae Gross, Rae Harper McGill, and Dani Jae McGill; and great-grandchildren, Allison Hice, Maddie Hice, Addie Hice, Rubie Rae Gross, Eva Mae Gross, and Colin David Gross. Blake Rudd, Joe McAdams, Jay Harper, Jeremy Turner, Danny Turner, and Eric Gross will serve as pallbearers. Honorary bearers are Harold Kennedy, Don Buck, Larry Hatley, Robert Manley, Bobby Harper, Ronnie Harper, Marshall Harper, Fred Fitch, Steve Volino, Vince Volino, and the 73-74 Plainview Boys Basketball Team. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Plainview Cross Country team and Plainview Girl's Track and Field. Online condolences can be made at www.craddockfuneralhome.com