Wiley Balthrop

John Wiley Balthrop, 73, died May 2, 2023 near Alamogordo, New Mexico. The funeral service is Monday, May 8 at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church, Rev. Brian Matthews officiating.
Wiley was born June 21, 1949, to John Meredith and Cherie Grace (Parker) Balthrop in Ada, Oklahoma and lived in Byng on the family property his entire life. After graduating from Byng High School in 1967, he attended East Central University and married Cynthia Ann (Keylor) Balthrop on January 4, 1969, enjoying a happy family life for 41 years until her death in 2011.
As a young boy, Wiley suffered a polio infection and overcame it to go on to use his mechanical gifts the rest of his life. Starting at Brockway Glass in the early 1970's, he patiently built his own automotive repair business on his Byng property, which grew into a thriving business called Wiley's Automotive near Main and Mississippi, where he worked until his retirement around 2018. Wiley employed and trained many mechanics and knew countless people in Ada from those years of serving in the community. He never quite retired completely and continued some work back at his shop in Byng.
Wiley and Cindy had two boys, Mark and Matthew. Mark went on to become a Presbyterian pastor as well as a training manager for the Oklahoma Dept of Human Services. Matt is a successful diagnostic sales developer for Snap-on Tools. Wiley was a faithful husband and father, teaching his sons personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, and values that make a family thrive. He attended hundreds of hours of ball games, music recitals, and the like in support of his boys. He ensured the family was unquestionably a Christian family, worshipping for decades at Ada's First Baptist Church and then First United Methodist Church later in life.
Following Cindy's passing, Wiley found a great love and soulmate in Amelda McCortney. They literally traveled from sea to shining sea together, riding their motorcycles, caring for each other, and enjoying their many grandchildren together. They brought their respective families together many times for rich experiences and sweet memories. Amelda was with Wiley at his cardiac incident leading to a motorcycle crash and cared for him lovingly and unceasingly to the end.
Wiley's devotion to his grandchildren was no less than for his sons, which included Amelda's grandchildren as well. Charlie is finishing 8th grade in Norman schools, playing football and powerlifting. Maggie is finishing her sophomore year at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in chemical engineering. Levi, a basketball starter on his team, is graduating from high school, headed to Oklahoma State. Betsy is finishing her junior year in high school and a fierce volleyball player.
Wiley was preceded in death by his father John Meredith Balthrop, brother Barry Paul Balthrop, and wife Cindy Balthrop. Survivors include his mother Cherie Balthrop of Ada, brother David Balthrop and his wife Linora of Murphy, Texas, nephew Bradley Balthrop and his wife Jenny of Sachse, Texas; two sons, Matt Balthrop of Joplin, MO, Mark Balthrop and his wife Kristen of Edmond; grandchildren Charlie Balthrop of Norman, Maggie Balthrop, Levi Balthrop and Betsy Balthrop, all of Edmond; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers are Roy Throne, Mike Hall, Lanny Glasscock, Levi Balthrop, Charlie Balthrop, and Bradley Balthrop.