Dr. Walter MacMillan

Walter MacMillan

Walter James MacMillan passed away peacefully in Tulsa, OK, on December 29, 2020, surrounded by his family. Dr. MacMillan was born on October 17, 1936, in Rochester, NY. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice and Norman MacMillan and brother, John P. MacMillan.

During his youth, Dr. MacMillan was an active member of the Boy Scouts. His professional career began while he was still attending Aquinas Academy in Rochester, NY. Upon graduation in 1954, he earned the title of youngest manager in the grocery store chain where he was working. He served in the U.S. Coastguard Reserves from 1954-1959. While giving a Career Day presentation at a local high school, he was offered a position at McCurdy's Department Store. For the next 30+ years, retail merchandising and marketing took him all over the world, finally landing him in Oklahoma. In Tulsa at age 50, Dr. MacMillan was finally able to realize his lifelong dream: attending college. In 1992, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA. In 1994, he received an MS from Southern Nazarene University and in 1998, he earned a PhD from Walden University. Dr. Mac, as his students called him, became a professor at Oral Roberts University, School of Business, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses. He was involved in many aspects of student life from mentor/advisor to the American Management Society and honorary coach to various student sports. But most importantly, he was a friend.

Dr. MacMillan is survived by his wife, Dottie of Tulsa, OK; daughter, Cyndi Brown and husband, Rob of Reno, NV; grandson, Tyler Penrod and wife, Danielle of Westlake, FL; granddaughter, Holly Penrod of Phoenix, AZ; and great-grandchildren, Emerson, Heidi and Asher.

A memorial service will be announced later this year, and held at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.