Harold Dee Glidewell

There is a great sadness here on earth as Harold has gone on to greater things. In heaven, there is joy and celebration as he has entered the Kingdom of the Lord. Our memories of him will be carried with us through our lives. We are better people because of him.

We said good-bye to Harold Dee Glidewell on January 3, 2020, just 7 days short of his 101st birthday. He was the best husband and daddy ever! He was so loved! That day was his birthday in heaven and Wanda Jo was there to welcome him.

Harold was born January 10, 1919, in Strickler, Arkansas to Ora Thomas (O.T.) and Ora Etta Glidewell.

Harold graduated from Britton High school and attended the Blackwell School of Business. He was proud to be a member of the “Greatest Generation” in American History proudly serving his country during World War II as a member of the Coast Guard aboard the LST (Landing Ship Tank) #795. He was a member of the United States Landing Ship Tank (L.S.T.) Association. He was honored for his service in October 2013 as one of the men selected to go on the “Honor Flight” to see the World War II monument in Washington D.C.

He married the love of his life and his high school sweetheart, Wanda Jo (Taylor) on January 1, 1944, and they celebrated 69 years of marriage before her death.

Harold worked for the Oklahoma City Post Office for 30 years before he retired. He also sold real estate for many years with Deal Simpson Real Estate.

In 2011 he received his 50 year membership pin from the Myrtle Masonic Lodge in Oklahoma City. As a 32nd Degree Mason and a 50 year member of the Guthrie Scottish Rite, he served as the director of the 19th Degree Team for many years. Harold was honored for his service with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (K.C.C.H.) in 1983. He was always proud to wear his “Red Cap” with honor as service to the Scottish Rite. Harold joined the India Shrine over 50 years ago and served as Director and Secretary of the Greeters Unit.

Harold served as president of the OKC National Association of Retired Federal Employees (N.A.R.F.E) and Oklahoma City Craft #37 of the National Federated Craft.

He was a life-long member of Kentucky Avenue Baptist Church but attended church at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Most recently he attended Crossings Community Church where he delivered Mobile Meals and was a member of the Flower Ministry.

For 18 years Harold served on the Board of Directors for the USE Federal Credit Union.

Harold never met a stranger. He truly liked people and believed in the goodness of everyone. He loved his family and greeted each day with a smile. He always had something nice to say and was welcoming to everyone. Harold will always be remembered for his positive outlook, his personal integrity, his generous spirit, his compassion for animals, his passion for OU football, and especially his love of the India Shrine Circus. Many children who never met Harold have benefited from his generosity through the years as he would buy Shrine Circus tickets each year and give the tickets to families so that children and many adults too, could experience the joy of the circus. Each year he received pictures and letters from children sharing their circus experiences and he would read them over and over.

Harold will be missed everyday but what joy we will carry in our hearts for having had him in our life. Thank you, Harold, for wrapping your arms around us and guiding us through life! The world is a better place because you were in it.

He is survived his daughters Lynda Wood and Jan Clark, son-in-law Dennis Wood; nieces Helen Baker of Gore, OK, Shirley (Jack) Bullock of Ft. Worth, TX, and Phyllis (John) Houck of Minneapolis, MN; nephews Tom Glidewell of Gore, OK; great nephew O.T. Glidewell of Waxahachie, TX, and a special great niece Julie (Tony) Dean of Austin, TX, along with several other great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Jo {Taylor}, his parents, and two brothers, Lacy Glidewell and Kenneth Glidewell.

There are simply no words to express our appreciation to the kind and caring staff at Heritage Point of OKC for making each day special for Harold. Also the compassionate care from the Physicians Choice Hospice was such a blessing. You all are angels on earth!

You are invited to join in the celebration of the life of this remarkable man who had a life well lived at 10 a.m., January 7, 2020, at the Memorial Park Historic Chapel in Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Linda Brinkworth officiating.

Harold was deeply loved and will be greatly missed but he will forever be remembered. Harold had a special sparkle in his eyes that was contagious to everyone. The memories of Harold will always bring a smile and stay in our hearts forever. You were loved Harold! 100 years plus 358 days was not long enough!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances in Harold’s memory may be made to the India Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund at 3601 Northwest 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or just go to the Shrine Circus each year and smile knowing that Harold is smiling too. As Harold lived everyday with kindness, let your next act of kindness to another person be made simply in loving memory of Harold.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

“When someone you love becomes a memory….that memory becomes a treasure.” Harold was our treasure!

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach

“Nothing you love is lost. Not really. Things, people –they always go away sooner or later. You can’t hold them anymore than you can hold moonlight. But if they’ve touched you, if they’re inside you, then they’re still yours. The only things you ever really have are the ones you hold inside your heart.” Bruce Coville

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” –From a headstone in Ireland

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” -Kahlil Gilbran

“Your presence we miss

Your memory we treasure,

Loving you always

Forgetting you never.”

Author Unknown