Terry Alan Madden, 75, of Norman, OK, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2023, in Oklahoma City.
Terry was born in Shawnee, OK, to Richard and Oleta Madden on September 22, 1947. He graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1965. He was subsequently drafted into the Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the Panama Canal Zone with the USA Strategic Communication Signal Corps, receiving the National Defense and Sharpshooter Medals, and was honorably discharged in March of 1970.
He married Barbara Lynn Bilby on June 6, 1969, at the Allen Freewill Baptist Church in Sapulpa, OK. He went on to further his education at Oklahoma State Technology College to become a telephone lineman and began his career at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, retiring from AT&T in 2002.
He served churches and Star School Board from 1979 to 1991, functioned as the Union Representative for the Communication Workers of America, Owned the Red Bird Ranch in Welch, OK, founded Elite Roofing, served on the Cleveland County Conservation Board, was the HOA President for Eastridge neighborhood in Norman, OK where most of his investment properties were located, served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at several churches, and went to Northwest China to share the Gospel with the Uyghur People.
Terry is preceded in death by his father, Richard Madden, Sr., his mother, Oleta Karcher Madden, and his brother, Richard Madden, Jr., all of Sapulpa, OK.
Terry is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Bilby Madden, of the home; his three children, Jennifer Madden Kelsey, husband John Kelsey of Oklahoma City; Sarah Madden Champlin, husband Vernon Champlin of Colorado Springs; and Aaron Madden, wife Cassandra Walls Madden of Tulsa. Siblings; Karlene Madden Weir, Twila Beth Madden Flynn, Andrew Madden, Angela Madden Bell, and Timothy Madden. Grandchildren; Samuel Champlin, Josiah Kelsey, Katie Champlin, Ally Madden, Zach Madden, and Avery Madden.
The family of Terry Madden wishes to extend our sincere gratitude to Karlene Madden Weir for providing four additional years to our time together by selflessly giving her stem cells for the transplant; we would also like to thank the Oncology Teams at Norman Regional, Stephenson Cancer Center, and MD Anderson, as well as everyone who donated blood over the last five years. Finally, a special, “Thank You!” to all the family and friends who prayed, laughed, and cried with us during his journey.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am at the Sapulpa First Baptist Church on Thursday, June 15, with John Kelsey officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery in Sapulpa, OK; arrangements are made by Smith Funeral Home.
