Aileen Whitehead Batson

1927 - 2023

Aileen Whitehead Batson

October 26, 1927 - July 21, 2023

Aileen (Whitehead) Batson, age 95, born in Oilton, OK, raised in the Olive community, a graduate of Olive High School, and a resident of Tulsa, passed away Friday, July 21, 2023.

 

Aileen's service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 27th at Olive First Baptist Church in Olive, OK (mailing address in Drumright, OK). Her burial will be following at the Highland Cemetery in Oilton, OK starting in the Pavilion and moving to her gravesite. Pastor Jerry Ausbrook will be presiding.

 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing, OK.

 

Aileen was preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Birt Austin Batson, of Tulsa, OK; and two of her grandchildren, Amy Brueggen Ford and Eric Neil Brueggen. Her parents were Albert Hobart Whitehead and Ruth Stayton Whitehead Ruscoe Ervin; and stepfather, Harvey Ruscoe. Aileen's siblings were Charles "Bill" Whitehead, Ruth Lorene Lochary, Hobert "Junior" Whitehead, and Coetta Ausbrook Todd, all raised in the Olive community.

 

Aileen is survived by her and Birt's five children, Mary Brueggen and husband, Jim, Rick Batson and wife, Linda, Ruth Carpenter, Tim Batson and wife, Marla, Debbie Copeland and husband, Burt, and by Ruth's previous husband, Marty Carpenter. Aileen is survived also by many grandchildren including Tracy Keeter and husband, Thomas, Amy Ford's husband, Steve Ford (wife, Johnna), Stephanie Diaz and husband, Tommy, Aaron Batson and wife, Lisa, Jason Batson and wife, Traci, Courtney (Batson) Piotrowski and husband, Mason, Jourdan Batson, Burton Copeland, and McKaylee Carpenter. She also leaves several great-grandchildren including Malachi Keeter, Vincent Keeter, Ian Ford and wife, Ivon, Samantha Ford, Brittany Diaz and husband, Filipe Sarmiento, Anthony, and Isabelle Diaz, Jaxon, Sydney, Scott, and Samuel Batson, and Reid and Logan Batson. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces from her family who are Orren Lochary, Gregg Ausbrook, Rev. Jerry Ausbrook, Carlotta Kirkpatrick, Barbara Lochary, Jeannie Buster. She also leaves numerous great-nephews and nieces; and great-great-nephews and nieces. Her cousin left behind is Margerite "Phyllis" Dellinger.

 

Aileen was always a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, great aunt, cousin, and friend. She was faithful in daily Bible study and was a devoted prayer warrior - a woman of tremendous faith. Her faith in Jesus Christ was immense. Aileen also loved gardening and cooking and was a gracious host, creating wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for years. Aileen also loved crafts and painting, loved games and was an avid reader. She loved each of their dogs. Born into a family who loved to play dominos, she became a savy player, and loved to play dominos and other games with her family following one of her delicious meals. But most of all she loved her family and God.

 

Aileen graduated from Olive High School in 1945. She maintained correspondence with Birt Batson of Oilton, who was serving in the Navy during World War II. They agreed to marry, so she took the train from OK to Portland, OR, where she and Birt married on April 19, 1946. They loved Portland, but Birt soon separated from the Navy and they returned to OK, where they attended Central State College in Edmond. Soon after, Birt began working for Texaco and they began a lifelong adventure.

 

Before riding the train on a hard, bench seat from OK to marry Birt Batson in Portland, OR, she worked at the Tulsa bus stop, a downtown jewelry store, drug store and chopped wood for her mother's stove before she raised enough money to afford a new gas stove.

 

During Aileen's life, she coordinated many family moves from settled home to new home in Oklahoma and Indonesia as her husband, Birt, was re-located by Texaco and Caltex multiple times, even sometimes at a moment's notice.

 

After decades living in OK, Aileen and Birt lived with their younger children about 7 years in Sumatra, Indonesia where he worked for Caltex Petroleum during the 1970s. There she found ways to survive life in the jungle (both Duri and Minas Caltex camps) by building friendships, playing occasional bridge and golf with friends, guiding the household, and each morning sent her children off to school with healthy snacks.

 

Visitors never left their home without first being offered a comfortable seat and something to drink and/or eat before Aileen sat down to join the conversation.

 

We will miss her beautiful and kind blue eyes, generous smile, gentle kisses and warm hugs. Her life was not an easy one but her faith In Jesus Christ gave her courage and strength to keep going. Aileen showed love, humility, and grace throughout a challenging life, but hers was a life very well-lived. She was quite creative and continually tried to share light and fun with others around her. Even in her last days, hours and moments, she maintained her eloquence and kindness to the best of her ability to everyone she encountered. Dad loved her dearly til his last day and must be extremely happy now that she's home again.

 

Special thanks to all the doctors and staff at Springer Clinic, University Village Retirement Community, and Saint Francis Hospital, and an extra special thanks to her wonderful caregivers and Evergreen Hospice for the assistance and support received.