James Gelsthorpe

A Celebration of Life Service for James W. “Jim” Gelsthorpe age 73 of Enid will be 10:00 am Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Ladusau-Evans Chapel. Graveside services will be Wednesday, May 22, 2019 for the family at the Ft. Sill Cemetery, Elgin, OK under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the funeral home.

Jim was born September 29, 1945 in Bloomington, IL to Francis (Dean) and Virginia (Ferne) Gelsthorpe. He passed away May 15, 2019 in the OU Medical Center after battling leukemia for nearly two years. As an “Army Brat,” whose father, a career military officer stationed throughout the world, he attended multiple schools. He was proud of the fact he lived in so many different locations and felt it gave him an outstanding knowledge of the world. Jim himself was an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War.

Jim graduated from Phillips University, with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in April, 1978 and taught at Hoover Elementary School before accepting a position with Williamsburg Public Schools in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he taught before returning to Enid Public Schools as the Transportation Director, a position he held for 37 years and retired in July 2018.

Jim married Marlene on June 7, 1985 in Enid, Oklahoma. Jim and Marlene were both educators with Enid Public Schools and were honored to have taught so many students. They had a rich and full life together traveling throughout the world in search of “the next casino.” Marlene was the love of his life and his best friend.

Jim is survived by his wife Marlene and his two children Michael Gelsthorpe (Kimberly) and Michelle Hiserodt (Kurt). He is also survived by grandchildren Sam, Otto, Josie, Leo, Kathryn, and Parker, and brother, Joseph Gelsthorpe (Joanne). He was preceded in death by his father and his mother.

Memorials may be given to Our Daily Bread, Enid, OK, or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home, P.O.Box 3501, Enid, OK 73702 serving as custodians of the fund.

Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com

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