Norman Wilmeth Obituary (1918

Col. Norman C. Wilmeth of Guymon, OK, US Army (Ret) passed away July 7, 2014 after a brief illness at Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. He was 96 years old. Wilmeth was born May 2, 1918 south of Guymon, Oklahoma to Joseph Carroll Wilmeth and Lora Dixon Wilmeth. He graduated from Guymon High School and attended Panhandle State University before enlisting in the the US Army in 1939. He served as an artillery officer before joining the US Army Air Corps Glider Pilot program. In WWII, he served with distinction as a Glider Pilot flying into Italy, France, Holland and numerous other missions including the Normandy invasion. He was awarded the Medaille de la France Liberee in 1982 by the French government and is a founding sponsor of the National Museum of the US Army. He was married to Mary Donna Long on September 3, 1950 celebrating 53 years of marriage before her death in 2002. He was married to Kay Tipton on July 9, 2003. Wilmeth was a real estate agent, appraiser, farm and ranch manager and auctioneer and avid private pilot. He served as president of the Guymon Board of Realtors, Guymon Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and Guymon Lions Club as well as post commander of American Legion Post 31. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a past Worshipful Master of the Guymon Masonic Lodge, and served as chairman of Guymon Pioneer Days for many years. In 2000, he was named the Melvin Jones Fellow by the Lions Club International Foundation for his dedication to humanitarian services. He was an active member of the Victory Memorial United Methodist Church. Wilmeth was a past-president of the Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association and an active member of the National Auctioneers Association where he was one of the first in the US to earn the professional CAI certification. He was the 2010 International Flying Farmer Man of the Year and a former president of the Oklahoma Flying Farmers as well as an active member of the WWII Glider Pilots Association. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Lora Melinda Wilmeth, and his first wife, Donna Long Wilmeth. Wilmeth is survived by his wife, Kay Wilmeth; his daughters Carol Wilmeth Wheeler of Oklahoma City, and Renee Wilmeth of Indianapolis and son in law, John Wheeler. His grandchildren Justin and Kendra Wilmeth of Oklahoma City, Jessica Hinds of Oklahoma City, and Capt. Jason and Michela Hinds of Wiesbaden, Germany; Kelly Hill of Guymon; Tanya Esters of Oklahoma City; Jason Hill of Hugoton, Kansas; and a great grandson Joshua Hill of Guymon. He is also survived by sister-in-law Mary Long of Guymon; nephews and nieces Jay and Eva Lile of Amarillo; Patrick Long of Dallas, Texas; Steven Long of Guymon; Lisa Long of San Diego, California; Roger McKinnon of Guymon, Douglas McKinnon of Denver, Colorado; and Warner and Vicki McKinnon of Guymon; cousins Gerald Dixon of Guymon; Erline Dixon Howell of Guymon; and Bonnie Dixon and Don Winters of Guymon. Family will be greeting friends on Friday, July 11,2014 from 3:00 p.m. till 6;00 p.m. at the funeral home. Services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12,2014 at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church with Reverend Gary Holdeman officiating. Interment will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made in honor of his WWII service to the Victory Memorial United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be shared at www.hensonnovak.com