Quinton Brice Speegle

Quinton Brice Speegle was born April 9, 1920 in Cullman, Alabama. He was the son of John Wesley and Della Jane (Kofer) Speegle. Quinton was raised in the Cullman area and attended school there, graduating from high school in 1940.

Upon graduation from high school, Quinton moved to Memphis where he worked at various jobs and also continued his education. While traveling with some friends in late 1940 to California, Quinton stopped in Tulsa and through acquaintances obtained a job a Spartan Aviation. He continued to work at Spartan until the onset of World War II. He then took the examinations through the military V-2 program and was placed in college at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater. As the war progressed, Quinton was inducted into the Navy and sent to Officer Candidate School. After graduating in the top ten percent of his class in pilot training, Quinton received his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold. He was then transferred into the United States Marine Air Corp where he served as a 1st Lieutenant, Fighter Pilot in the Vought F4U Corsair in the Pacific Theatre. At the end of World War II, 1st Lieutenant Speegle continued to fly senior military officer to different bases throughout the Orient.

Upon his honorable discharge from military service, Quinton returned to Alabama for a short time before moving again to Oklahoma. He was married to Ernestine Hunt on Ash Wednesday before Easter in 1948 in Tulsa. The couple established their home in Tulsa and raised three sons, Roger, David and Barton. Shortly after returning to Tulsa, Quinton accepted employment with American Airlines, hoping to transition to jet aircraft and become a commercial airline pilot. While waiting for the opportunity to fly, he entered an apprentice program in the sheet metal industry and joined the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 270. During his childrenís childhood, Quinton coached Little League and served as a Boy Scout Master. He took his young scouts on weekend fishing trips and showed them how to filet their catches and cook them over a campfire. The remains of the large catch were divided and sent home with the boys to share with their families. Even boys who had previously expressed a dislike for fish quickly changed their minds. Quinton was also active in the Parent Teachers Association activities.

He continued to work in the sheet metal industry for nearly forty years, retiring as a foreman, working on numerous jobs throughout the area including the construction of Connerís Correctional Facility. He remained active in the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 270 and received a fifty year membership certificate a few years ago.

In 1980, Quinton and Ernestine moved to some property west of Terlton and began building a new home. While residing in Terlton, Ernestine and Quinton were instrumental in the establishment of the Terlton Community Senior Citizens Center. They remained active together in the center until Ernestine passed away April 24, 1989 after an extended illness of nearly ten years. Quinton kept her at home and provided nearly all her care by himself until the later period of her illness when he obtained help from Home Health.

On February 15, 1992, Quinton was married to Margaret Engles Edgar in the home of Mary Heller, north of Mannford. The couple made their home west of Terlton. Quinton liked to fish for crappie and gave away much of his catch when the fish were striking heavily. He also was known as an excellent gardener and shared the abundance of his harvest with friends and family. His generosity was known throughout the area. Quinton and Margaret remained active in the Terlton Senior Citizens and enjoyed visiting with their friends in the area.

Quinton passed from this life about 6:00 pm, Thursday, January 23, 2003 at the Terlton Senior Citizens Center at the age of eighty-two years. In addition to his first wife, Ernestine; he was preceded in death by his parents, John and Della; two brothers, Clyde Wesley Speegle of Alabama and Rayborn Speegle of Texas.

He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret of the home; three sons, Roger Speegle and his wife, Patty; David Speegle; and Barton Speegle and his wife, Annette, all of Tulsa; six grandchildren, Keith Speegle of Dallas, Brent Speegle and wife, Melissa of Norman, Desiree Speegle, Deborah Speegle, Danielle Speegle and Zachary Speegle, all of Tulsa; brother, John Harold Speegle of Alabama; sisters, Imogene Lit of Murphysboro, Illinois and Pauline Murray of Oneonta, Alabama.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Monday, January 27, 2003 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Burial will be at 4:00 pm at the Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow under the direction of the Rose Hill Funeral Home. Military honors will be rendered by the Veterans of Foreign War District Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be three grandsons: Keith, Brent and Zachary Speegle, Frank Arnett, Richard Roberts, Melvin Pierce and Bill Payne. Musicians for the service will be Mary Campbell and Mike Elliott.