Norman Lynn Retherford

Norman Lynn Retherford was born February 3, 1932, in Cushing, Oklahoma. He was to son of Vernon Hermann and Della Lorena (Barton) Retherford. Norman grew up and attended school in Cushing where he graduated with the Class of 1950.

Norman was baptized in 1948, by Bro. Bob Tibbett in the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn. In 1950, Norman entered into the U.S. Army and hitchhiked from South Carolina to Florida to Georgia and then caught a flight to Oklahoma City so that he could attend the Parkland meetings. Later he was discharged from the Army on a family hardship when his father suffered a nervous breakdown. Following his discharge Norman would work several jobs in paying off bank loans on their homestead 3 miles east of Cushing on Highway 33. In 1953, he would take the GI bill so that he could learn to fly.. He started at downtown Airpark in Oklahoma City and worked while learning to fly. It was there that he met Hoyt Walkup who was the manager and chief flight instructor at Stillwater airport. Norman moved to Stillwater and attend Oklahoma A&M which later became Oklahoma State and attended ROTC for the Air Force and became a flight instructor at Stillwater airpark. In 1955, Norman met the love of his life Mary Beth Browning at a classroom building while she was getting a drink of water. They were married on June 4, 1955, at Stillwater and would remain married for 60 years and to this union there are two sons Bill and Barry. After finishing school and obtaining a degree in mathematics, the couple moved to Big Springs, Texas . While there he would begin his Air Force flight training flying T-38 jets.

Following his training, the Air Force dispatched him to Strategic Air Command in Lincoln, Nebraska and later to Mt. Clemon, Michigan where he flew KC97’s that refueled B-52 bombers in the air during the cold war. On a yearly flight medical it would be discovered he had a severe lung disease and was given a life expectancy of living to age 40. Norman was advised to seek a dry climate and he would take his discharge at Davis Mothan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona in the Spring of 1963. It was at this time Norman would start a career in the real estate business. In the same year Bro. Bob Tibbett hitch hiked to Tucson to see him and told him it was the will of the Lord to return to the faith. It was then that Norman and Beth sold their home and packed everything to move back to Tulsa. There his family would attend Turnpike, Sapulpa, and Dawson churches in Tulsa. From 1964 thru 1966, Norman worked as an aircraft salesman for Tulsa Cessna.

Norman would later return to the real estate business and worked for Moskowitz Realtors and Bob Parmelee real estate, and then in his own personal company selling over 20,000 acres of commercial, industrial and residential property. In 1988, financial hard times would return again with the collapse of the oil, gas and real estate industry. Norman and Beth would lose almost everything and were oppressed for nearly 13 years. In all of their losses, adversities and defeats of life, Norman often spoke he had no regrets whatsoever. He felt like God had blessed him more than he deserved. From the time in 1963 to his life’s end, he spent 1,000’s of hour reading the word, prayer, supplication and seeking out the lost sheep of the house of Israel that he might serve Christ.

Norman was the King David, Nehemiah, and Job of present day and often shared the chastening received from the Lord. He traveled hundreds of thousands of miles by car, by plane, and in the days of his oppression he hitchhiked to different parts of the United States to preach, teach and baptize. Beth was extremely cheerful and supportive to his efforts in the Lord and many times they gave their last dollars to help brethren build churches and go to the aid of others.

Brother Norman Retherford went to be with his Lord and Saviour on Sunday September 13, 2015, at his home in Owasso, Oklahoma at the age of 83 years seven months and ten days.

Surviving are his loving wife Mary Beth of the home, two children Bill Retherford and his wife Kim of Denton, Texas, Barry Retherford and his wife Rebecca of Hydro, Oklahoma; two sisters Ann Worthy and her husband Roger of Los Lunas, New Mexico, Jan Fowler and her husband Theldon of Cushing, Oklahoma; three brothers Richard Retherford of Phoenix, Arizona, David Retherford and his wife Peggy of Cushing, Oklahoma, Robert Retherford and his wife Jan of Kingwood, Texas; four grandchildren Stephanie Retherford of Dallas, Texas, Justin Retherford and his wife Heather of Ponder, Texas, Mary McGowen and her husband Blake of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Nathan Retherford of Hydro, Oklahoma as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing.