Gary Edward Drumb

Gary Edward Drumb, beloved husband, father, brother, and Poppa, has hung up his lei and said "Aloha," closed on his last house, finished the fourth quarter, and given his last hug. He passed away surrounded by family on May 24, 2025, in Oklahoma City. Gary was born July 28, 1945 in McAlester, Oklahoma, to Thomas "Eddie" and Margaret Drumb, joining his older sister Beverly to complete the family. He loved his happy childhood growing up there in the 1950's surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Gary graduated from McAlester High School in 1963, remaining close with many from his class throughout his life through reunions and frequenting their "email loop."
In 1967, Gary graduated from The University of Oklahoma. He later went into homebuilding and started his own business, The Drumb Company. His confidence and determination led to 46 years of him providing for his family and building homes for others. He built throughout Oklahoma City, north Texas, and Tulsa, and he could drive around neighborhoods to pick out the distinctive look of "a Drumb home."
Gary met his wife, Laura, on January 6, 1972. They were engaged on Valentine's Day and married on June 4th of that same year. When he decided he wanted something, nothing stopped him! He later discovered another love in the title of "dad" with the births of his daughters, Holly and Angela. They resided in Oklahoma City until 1987 when they moved to Denton, Texas, where his business and family life continued to thrive for the next 20 years. In 2007, Gary and Laura returned to Oklahoma, this time to Tulsa, so they could be near their daughters and his sister and their families. They lived in the Jenks/Glenpool area and then Sapulpa in recent years.
After 60 years of good health and successfully avoiding doctors, Gary was diagnosed with nonalcoholic liver disease in 2010 and received a liver transplant on April 2, 2012. The family has remained lovingly grateful for the gift of life from his donor, Diana Westphal, whose daughters hold a special place in their hearts. His many health problems in the final 15 years of life were tough for him to navigate, given how much he hated being held back from living life on his own terms. He often expressed gratitude to God and other people for how much Laura did to take care of him during those years.
If you knew Gary, you knew his passion for OU Sooners football; in 1999 he decided this new Coach Stoops looked special, so he called up the Athletic Department for season tickets. He often lamented only having purchased two, laughing about how easy it was then and how these quickly became a hot commodity. Gary and Laura enjoyed attending home games for years until his health prevented him from continuing. Gary loved boating on the lakes of Oklahoma and north Texas, and he spent many years restoring and enjoying boats of all sizes with his family. He also inherited a love of fishing from his own dad. He adored classic cars and recently recounted a memory of impressing his cousins when, as a young child, he could name the make and model of any car he saw drive by. In the 1980's, he restored a 1954 Thunderbird that was his pride and joy for years. Gary and his family were charter members at Spring Creek Baptist Church in Oklahoma City 40 years ago, and he served as a Deacon in many churches through the years. He led his family in living out faith in Christ, spending much of his time these past few months listening to sermons, reading his Bible, praying fervently for his family, and singing hymns. He loved to travel and took his family many places, but his favorite was Hawaii, where he vacationed with Laura many times. Perhaps no pastime was more important to Gary, though, than cheering on his grandkids through their games, performances, and achievements. He was so proud of his grandchildren and always joined them in spirit when he wasn't able to be there in person, often watching highlights later. Nowhere were his pride and grit more evident than in the last week of his life, when he fought through declining health in order to make the high school graduations of two of his grandchildren. It was the next morning that he went in for a procedure and his body said, "that's enough" and his Lord called him Home. We know he was beyond ready, even if we weren't ready to let him go!
Gary is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Laura; his two daughters and their husbands: Holly & Jeff Hall and Angela & Cotton Dunlevy; seven grandchildren: Reid, Hutch, & London Hall, Jackson & Libby Bivins, and Jude & Maycee Dunlevy; his beloved older "Tisso" & brother-in-law, Beverly and Robert Fuller; and many dear cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Margaret Drumb. His family is thankful for his home church, South Tulsa Baptist Church, and many past church communities, as well as the dedicated care of his many healthcare providers.
Gary's funeral will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, with a Viewing & Visitation at 1pm and a service to follow at 3pm, at Spring Creek Baptist Church, 11701 N. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 1st, at 2pm at South Tulsa Baptist Church, 10310 S. Sheridan Rd, Tulsa. Graveside arrangements in McAlester at Oak Hill Cemetery is on Saturday, May 31 @ 10am.
After his transplant, he adopted a favorite verse, Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." We thank God that He keeps his promises and that we will see him again, joining him on a beach in heaven one day.