Delbert D. Wilmoth

Memorial service for Delbert Dean Wilmoth will be 11 a.m., Mon., Jan. 26, at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Ray Crawford officiating. Services are under the direction of MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

Delbert passed away January 21, 2015. He was born January 7, 1938 in Beaver, Oklahoma to Denzil and Helen (Bolack) Wilmoth. Del grew up in Beaver and graduated from Beaver High School in 1956. While in Beaver, he worked in his family’s grocery store, Denzil’s Grocery and Locker. Del formed many lasting friendships that were still gowing strong until the day he passed.

Del attended the University of Oklahoma and received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1962. It was at OU that he met “the one”, Carol Qualls. They passed each other many times on the back stairs of Holmberg Hall before he got the courage to ask her for a date. He and Carol married in 1960.

Upon graduating from OU, Del was offered a professional contract with an opera company; however, he knew that the life of a professional singer was not conducive to family life, which was important to him. Del went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Tulsa in 1968. His deep, rich, baritone voice awarded him many opportunities and honors, including being named as a finalist for the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. He also performed as a soloist with the Tulsa and Oklahoma City symphonies and Canterbury Choral Society. Del loved acting as well as singing and performed in countless musical productions, including playing the part of Daniel in The Devil and Daniel Webster and Benjamin Franklin in 1776. One of his favorite characters to play was Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof.
The real passion of Del’s life was teaching music. He taught Vocal Music in the public school system for 16 years and at the college level for 17 years. Del touched so many lives as a teacher by showing his students the beauty of music. As an example of the kind of educator that he was, many of his former students from 30 and 40 years ago continued to stay in touch year after year. In addition, Del and Carol were involved in church music all of their married lives.

Not only was Del a talented musician, but he had other gifts as well. He was a master craftsman. He made beautiful furniture including grandfather clocks and dining room furniture. Many people are enjoying his pieces in their homes. Del also loved to fish. After retirement, he and Carol lived at the lake where he spent many hours in his bass boat.

Del is preceded in death by his infant daughter, Susan Elaine. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 54 years; his daughter Kim Carlon and her husband Steve of Oklahoma City, daughter Kerry Sitton and her husband Rod of Claremore; sister, Donna West and husband, Ray of Midland, TX; and brother, Steve Wilmoth and wife, Amanda of Dallas, TX. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Laurel and Connor Sitton, and McKenna and Cale Carlon. He was so proud of his grandchildren. They were the lights of his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the music department at Claremore First United Methodist Church.