Jerry Allen Gerstle

Jerry Allen Gerstle was born February 19, 1940 in Terlton, Oklahoma. He was the son of Allen and Doris (Ross) Gerstle. Jerry was raised and attended school in Terlton, graduating from Terlton High School in 1958.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Jerry enlisted into the service of his country in the United States Army on March 8, 1959. Upon completion of basic training, Jerry was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), nicknamed the Rock of the Marne, in August of 1960. Jerry was promoted to the rank of Sergeant after completion of the 3rd Infantry Division Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. He was later assigned to the 87th Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia where he was honorable discharged on June 7, 1963.

Jerry was married to Sue Ann Barnett in 1965 and the couple had one daughter, Jerri on March 27, 1967. The couple later divorced in 1974. Jerry was later married to Deloris Ann Tedder on April 14, 1980 in Miami, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his father, Allen Sox Gerstle on March 30, 1982. Jerry joined the Air National Guard in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a Staff Sergeant in 1983, serving for five years until he was discharged in 1988.

For nearly ten years, Jerry was employed as a truck driver for Southwest Tube in Tulsa. He was then employed as a cashier for the Jack's Convenience Store in Cleveland for a while before accepting employment at the Tulsa Boy's Home. He then attended CLEET training at Tulsa VoTech obtaining certification as a armed security officer. He then worked for nearly ten years as a security officer for the World Publishing Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, retiring in February 2007.

Jerry was a charter and life member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 6678 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. He was also a member of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, Hebron Lodge in Cleveland. After completion of the three degrees Symbolic of Blue Lodge Masonry, Jerry proceeded through the degrees of the Tulsa Scottish Rite to become a 32 Degree Mason and a Shriner.

Jerry was a member of the Fisher Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. His hobbies included hunting and fishing. Jerry passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at his home in Sand Springs at the age of sixty-seven years, two months and twenty-one days.

He is survived by his wife, Deloris of the home; daughter and her husband, Jerri and Larry Willis of Deridder, Louisiana; step-daughter, Cindy Tedder of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; mother, Doris Gerstle of Cleveland, Oklahoma; brother, John Butch Gerstle of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; four grandsons, Luke Willis, Kevin Tedder, Bryan Smith and Derek Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, May 14, 2007 at the Fisher Baptist Church in Sand Springs with Rev. Danny Lanchard officiating. Burial will be at the Terlton Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be, Clyde Bowman, Doug McClary, Bryan Smith, Derek Smith, Kevin Tedder, Luke Willis, Tim Geen and Gary McClary.