Obituary for Ralph Allen Van Oostrum
Ralph Allen Van Oostrum, 78, Altus, was called to his Lord and Savior at his home on Friday, February 14, 2025.
Ralph was born on November 24, 1946, in Frederick, Oklahoma to Elbert Lamar and Edith Marie (Vernon) Van Oostrum. The family lived in Tipton, Oklahoma and moved to Altus while Ralph was in the 7th grade. Ralph was a graduate of Altus High School with the Class of 1965. He attended Altus Junior College and was a proud 1970 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics. Ralph married the love of his life, Margery Hardie, on June 23, 1966, at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Altus, Oklahoma. He then attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he would graduate with his Bachelor's and Master's in Education.
The couple moved back to Altus and Ralph taught science at Northeast Junior High for 10 years and was also the Assistant Principal. During his summers, he bricked homes and employed some of the high school boys to assist him. Ralph then went to work for the New York Life Insurance Company. He excelled at helping families with their insurance needs and he would continue this for the next 25 years before retiring. Ralph, along with Joe Don Royal and Dr. Joe Miller, owned and operated the Putt-Putt Golf and Games on Main Street. He had a unique knack for buying and selling things, mainly buildings and property and the contents thereof. He bought and sold anything from clothing and toy stores to boats and farms. Ralph enjoyed working and when you enjoy what you do, it doesn't really feel like work. He instilled this same attitude in his children and made sure they each had jobs. He knew the value in a good work ethic and wanted his children to know how to "earn" it. Ralph did not know the meaning of being retired and always wanted to keep busy, so he bought and operated the U-Keep-Key storage units on South Veterans for a number of years and picked up and delivered vehicles for Toyota, Doug Speer, and Johnny Roberts.
Ralph loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the First Methodist Church for over 52 years. He served in many capacities at the church including being on the First Methodist Bell Choir for 50 years. Ralph also served his community through the Red Cross, Altus Kiwanis Club, Main Street Altus, and on the Board of Directors for NBC Bank. Ralph collected coins, marbles, $5 bills, and "junk." If you needed it, he probably had it. He enjoyed his work at home, whether it was in his yard or on some home project. He loved being with Margery and their family, making and sharing memories. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he treasured every moment spent with them.
Ralph was preceded in death by his father, Elbert Van Oostrum; his mother, Edith Silk; and a brother, Carlton.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Margery; his children, Amanda Berry and husband, Kelly, Andy Van Oostrum and partner, Shannon Kelly, Amy Rothrock and husband, Jimmy, and Allen Van Oostrum and wife, Sarah; his grandchildren, Nathan, Turner, and Parker Coleman, Connor Berry and wife, Jayme, Sommer Cosme and husband, Enrique, III, Sam Van Oostrum and Gwen Van Oostrum, J.T., Isabel, Paul, Abigail, and Noah Rothrock, Peter, Elijah, Grace, Micah Van Oostrum; and Keeley and Jack Frieh; a great grandson, Enrique, IV; a sister, Bettie Janzen and husband, Deryl; a brother-in-law, Bill Hardie and wife, Chappel; his feline fur baby, Cathy; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and a host of friends.
The funeral home will be open from 1:00 - 8:00 PM Sunday, February 16, 2025, for those wishing to visit Ralph and the Van Oostrum family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, February 17, 2025, at the First Methodist Church with Rev. Jerry Raab officiating. Burial will follow in the Altus City Cemetery under the care of the Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory.
Ralph participated in numerous mission trips and many of you may know that he collected his $5 bills. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that in his memory, you may donate a $5 bill (or amount of your choice) to the First Methodist Church for the next mission trip to Guatemala in June. There will be donation receptacles at the funeral home and at the church.
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Ralph was born on November 24, 1946, in Frederick, Oklahoma to Elbert Lamar and Edith Marie (Vernon) Van Oostrum. The family lived in Tipton, Oklahoma and moved to Altus while Ralph was in the 7th grade. Ralph was a graduate of Altus High School with the Class of 1965. He attended Altus Junior College and was a proud 1970 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics. Ralph married the love of his life, Margery Hardie, on June 23, 1966, at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Altus, Oklahoma. He then attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he would graduate with his Bachelor's and Master's in Education.
The couple moved back to Altus and Ralph taught science at Northeast Junior High for 10 years and was also the Assistant Principal. During his summers, he bricked homes and employed some of the high school boys to assist him. Ralph then went to work for the New York Life Insurance Company. He excelled at helping families with their insurance needs and he would continue this for the next 25 years before retiring. Ralph, along with Joe Don Royal and Dr. Joe Miller, owned and operated the Putt-Putt Golf and Games on Main Street. He had a unique knack for buying and selling things, mainly buildings and property and the contents thereof. He bought and sold anything from clothing and toy stores to boats and farms. Ralph enjoyed working and when you enjoy what you do, it doesn't really feel like work. He instilled this same attitude in his children and made sure they each had jobs. He knew the value in a good work ethic and wanted his children to know how to "earn" it. Ralph did not know the meaning of being retired and always wanted to keep busy, so he bought and operated the U-Keep-Key storage units on South Veterans for a number of years and picked up and delivered vehicles for Toyota, Doug Speer, and Johnny Roberts.
Ralph loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the First Methodist Church for over 52 years. He served in many capacities at the church including being on the First Methodist Bell Choir for 50 years. Ralph also served his community through the Red Cross, Altus Kiwanis Club, Main Street Altus, and on the Board of Directors for NBC Bank. Ralph collected coins, marbles, $5 bills, and "junk." If you needed it, he probably had it. He enjoyed his work at home, whether it was in his yard or on some home project. He loved being with Margery and their family, making and sharing memories. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he treasured every moment spent with them.
Ralph was preceded in death by his father, Elbert Van Oostrum; his mother, Edith Silk; and a brother, Carlton.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Margery; his children, Amanda Berry and husband, Kelly, Andy Van Oostrum and partner, Shannon Kelly, Amy Rothrock and husband, Jimmy, and Allen Van Oostrum and wife, Sarah; his grandchildren, Nathan, Turner, and Parker Coleman, Connor Berry and wife, Jayme, Sommer Cosme and husband, Enrique, III, Sam Van Oostrum and Gwen Van Oostrum, J.T., Isabel, Paul, Abigail, and Noah Rothrock, Peter, Elijah, Grace, Micah Van Oostrum; and Keeley and Jack Frieh; a great grandson, Enrique, IV; a sister, Bettie Janzen and husband, Deryl; a brother-in-law, Bill Hardie and wife, Chappel; his feline fur baby, Cathy; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and a host of friends.
The funeral home will be open from 1:00 - 8:00 PM Sunday, February 16, 2025, for those wishing to visit Ralph and the Van Oostrum family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, February 17, 2025, at the First Methodist Church with Rev. Jerry Raab officiating. Burial will follow in the Altus City Cemetery under the care of the Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory.
Ralph participated in numerous mission trips and many of you may know that he collected his $5 bills. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that in his memory, you may donate a $5 bill (or amount of your choice) to the First Methodist Church for the next mission trip to Guatemala in June. There will be donation receptacles at the funeral home and at the church.
To send flowers in memory of Ralph Allen Van Oostrum, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
16
Feb
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home
1100 East Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
Funeral
Monday
17
Feb
2:00 PM
First Methodist Church
317 N. Main
Altus, OK 73521
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