Zelda Darlene Holtzclaw

Zelda Darlene Holtzclaw, 96, passed away peacefully at Share Medical Center in Alva, Oklahoma on January 26, 2025. Darlene was a 70-year resident of Alva, who with her husband John, operated Holtzclaw's Jewelry two doors east of the Rialto Theater for nearly 40 of those years. Darlene, or Zelda, as many of her close friends knew her, was preceded in death by her husband in 2009. She is survived by her son Mark Holtzclaw and his wife Joyce of Keene, California, and her grandson Bradley Holtzclaw of Tulsa -she will be deeply missed by her family and all that knew her.
The only child of Perry and Fannie Francis Enochs, Darlene was born in Bristow, Oklahoma on October 22, 1928. It was during the Great Depression, a dire time in rural Oklahoma. Darlene told stories of indigent school children and vagabonds from nearby trains coming to their home seeking food, which was never denied. Darlene learned at an early age God's grace of sharing the family's good fortune with those less fortunate. Darlene enjoyed the oil camps, she enjoyed talking with the workers and migrants, and she greatly enjoyed learning to drive at the age of twelve helping to take her dad to work in the Kiefer & Glen Pool Oil Fields. Darlene never forgot those early years: she loved hearing the rymethic clank of pumpjacks, she loved seeing trains, and as her many friends know, driving her cars was a lifelong passion.
Darlene attended high school in Sapulpa, Oklahoma where she met her future husband in the band. John, like so many other young men, dropped out of school in 1942 to enlist in the military. On his return from the Pacific War, the couple married and the newlyweds moved to Chicago where John attended school to study watch and jewelry repair while Darlene worked nights as a telephone operator. After apprenticeships in Montana and Colorado, John and Darlene moved to Alva in 1954 and started Holtzclaw's Jewelry.
Throughout the years, Holtzclaw's Jewelry provided outstanding service to the residents of Alva and Woods County. Darlene's tireless efforts contributed greatly to the business's success. She resolutely supported her husband, doing whatever was necessary to run a small-town business, all while taking care of her family. Her personalized customer service was exceptional, she always treated people with respect and consideration.
From the 60's through the 80's, Holtzclaw's employed many young ladies from the local high school and college. Known as the 'Holtzclaw Girls', Darlene developed strong. personal relationships with these young ladies, relationships that she maintained until her death, she considered them as her family.
Darlene supported a number of local service organizations and in later years volunteered her time at the Share Medical Center, for which she received Alva's 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award. Darlene was a devout Christian and member of the First United Methodist Church of Alva She was particularly fond of her Sunday School Class and greatly enjoyed the friendship of the many church members.
Darlene lived a sensible life and did so with joy. She rose early, worked hard, and loved her family, and many friends. Quick to laugh, she was also quick to lend a hand or ear. Her family is happy that she passed on to her next life pretty much the way she wanted - living independently and driving her cars well into her 90's.
Funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Alva at 11:00am, Friday, January 31,, 2025. Private family burial will follow under the direction of Wharton Funeral Chapel. In leu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made through the Wharton Funeral Chapel to the Alva Education Foundation (make checks to CFO), Northwestern Foundation, or the First United Methodist Church. Remembrances may be shared with the family at www.whartonfuneralchapel.com.