Dr. Peter David "Pete" Casper

Dr. Peter (Pete) David Casper of Oklahoma City, passed away on October 8, 2008, only one month shy of his 96th birthday. Peter was born to Russian-German Mennonites, David and Justina (Ediger) Casper, on November 23, 1912. Peter's parents came to the United States as immigrants acquiring land in Oklahoma during the "Run" when the Cherokee Strip was opened in 1893. He was raised on the family farm with nine brothers and sisters in Major County, five miles southeast of Fairview. He attended a one-room school, Progressive School, and graduated from Fairview High School in 1931. In the fall of 1931, he began his college career at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, where after three years, he obtained a teaching certificate. He began teaching at nearby Garber High School in Garber in 1934. He taught English Literature and Latin and coached many sports to include baseball, football, track, basketball and boxing. He also served as the school's principal before leaving the teaching profession in 1943. During the summers he worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma and Texas. In 1935, he received his Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern and in 1942 his Master's Degree in Administrative Education and English from Oklahoma A&M. In 1943, Peter left Garber High School to begin medical school at the University of Oklahoma. The day he began classes, the U.S. Government took over the school and the students were enlisted to the military. Peter chose the Army and was sent through an accelerated program of three years in addition to a year of surgical internship/residency. In the spring of 1947, he reported for active duty and served his country at Fort Belvoir, VA, as the base hospital Chief of Obstetrics. After two years, he was honorably discharged and returned to the Sooner state. In 1950, he began his own medical practice in Del City. In 1951, Dr. W.H. Porter joined his practice and they practiced family medicine together for more than forty years, dedicated to the people of the Mid-Del area. Dr. Pete Casper became one of the founders of Midwest Regional Medical Center which opened in October 1962, where he served two terms as Chief of Staff beginning in1964 and 1984. While living and serving in the Mid-Del area, Dr. Casper was very active in the community. He and his wife of 57 years, Arbutus (Wright) Casper, were charter members of Sunnylane United Methodist Church of Del City. Dr. Casper was also among the organizers of the Del City Masonic Lodge, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Del State Bank and Exchange National Bank of Del City. He was a member of the Del City Booster Club and provided football physicals for Del City Jr. High and High School athletes as well as attending athletic events to stand on the sidelines and provide medical care when needed. In 1959, he was one of the pioneers in Medicine to administer the first injectable polio vaccine. He was a board member of the Oklahoma County Medical Society and member of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. He also held various offices in the American Medical Association for General Practitioners. He was President of the Oklahoma State Academy of General Practice in 1969. After a long career dedicating his professional life to his fellow Oklahomans, he retired from his medical practice in 1990. Outside medicine, Peter was an avid golfer, bridge player and an avid Oklahoma Sooner fan where he held football season tickets for more than 50 years. He married Arbutus Wright Casper from Waynoka in 1935. They were married 57 years until her death in 1992. They raised three children in the Mid-Del area, Dr. G. David Casper, Judy Casper Johnson and Chris D. Casper. In 1995, Peter married Dr. Loretta Graham Engles. They became residents of Epworth Villa, Oklahoma City, in 1999. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 57 years, Arbutus Wright Casper, son, Chris D. Casper, granddaughter, Julie Diane Johnson, four brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Loretta Graham Engles son, Dr. G. David Casper and wife, Mary Lou, Oklahoma City daughter, Judy Casper Johnson and husband, John G., Oklahoma City granddaughters, Ginger Casper Maxted and husband, Mark, Oklahoma City and Gina Johnson Magee and husband, Justin, Edmond grandsons, Drew Casper and wife, Susan, Tulsa, Matt Casper, Oklahoma City, Eric, Erin and Evan Casper, Edmond great grandchildren, Wesley David, Wiley Thomas and Eleanor Kaye Maxted of Oklahoma City, Tanner Michael Magee, Edmond sister, Elizabeth Huddle, Tulsa along with many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 10AM, Friday, October 10, at Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Oklahoma City under the direction of Rev. Randy Shrauner. Following will be interment at Arlington Memorial Gardens at 3400 N. Midwest Blvd. in Midwest City. Peter requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 N.E. 13th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, or the Alzheimer's Association, 5400 N. Grand Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73112.