Geraldine Verda Pitchford Rouk was born in 1926 to Wesley Denton Pitchford and Mary Eileen Rombach in Haskell, Oklahoma. She was a farm girl. She was the oldest, the only girl and sister to five brothers, Don who died in the Korean Conflict, Harold, deceased, who was a Dallas Fireman, Leo, deceased, who was a teacher, Louis who died at birth and Herbert, an accountant, who currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Life was not easy. They picked their own cotton. One had to be tough to live through the 1930’s in the Oklahoma farm lands. They gardened and shared with their less fortunate neighbors.
The family moved from Haskell to close to Nyaka, Oklahoma and then to west of Beggs, OK. Beggs was her home until she was a young lady.
She married and had a daughter, Renee. She later remarried and had three sons, Terry, Mark and Kevin. All survive her.
She was an excellent student. She had perfect attendance in school as well as her brothers and her daughter. Her father told the story that he only went to school for one day and that was because his sister was sick and going to miss school. She completed the college of cosmetology. She was a hair dresser for a number of years. Then she became a stay at home mom while her children were little. After the children were grown, she substitute taught, baked and decorated cakes and other interesting stuff.
Christianity was a major part of her life from the beginning. She was a passionate member of the Assembly of God church. She attended several churches in the Sapulpa area starting with the former South Heights Assembly of God Church. If the church’s doors were open, she was there.
She played the piano, accordion, guitar and other interesting instruments including wrapping paper rolls. She was the piano accompanist when needed which continued until her later years. She played the piano at funerals and weddings. She would play the accordion if there was not a piano. She was famous for saying that all her children had been in jail. The children would accompany her when she would play the accordion as part of the county jail ministry.
She was a Sunday school teacher, led the children choir, organized vacation bible school, led Royal Rangers and loved to put on puppet shows with kids. She energetically supported the church in a humble way.
She was interested in many things from gardening to astronomy. Probably better said, she was interested in astronomy to xylophone playing and everything in between. She always had an interesting library in her home. She also was fond of saying that whatever her kids needed for school, she would be able to arrange something from her inventory. Gardening was her passion. For years she had an extensive collection of African Violets. She really like to plant wild flowers. She was an accomplished photographer with her 35MM camera. She was a problem solver. She had a quote something like, it’s only a problem till you figure it out.
For over 40 years, on Tuesdays, she and her friends would enjoy Ken’s Pizza Buffet. This was, of course, after she attended and weighed in at TOPS.
Her husband passed 21 years ago. She filled her life with service to the church, friends, family and learning more about this world.
She passed after several years of battling dementia in the care of her daughter, Renee, and son-in-law, Laurie. Her sons are tremendously grateful for their love, dedication and care of their mother.
Her children miss her greatly and are thankful for the influence that she had on their lives. She made her children better people.
She was 92 years young when she chose to leave this life.
Memorial service will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, 1208 S Main St, Sapulpa, OK.
