Alfred Karchmer

Alfred Harold Karchmer passed away peacefully on December 30, 2022, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 102. Alfred was born on September 21, 1920, in Oklahoma City, to Rose Karchmer Sugerman, a philanthropist and community activist, and Louis M. Karchmer, a Jewish immigrant and businessman. Alfred graduated from the Classen School of Advanced Studies, in Oklahoma City, before attending The Juilliard School of Music, in New York City, where his passion for classical music led him to study the violin. However, his musical studies were interrupted when he was drafted into World War II. After undergoing Army training in the Wyoming desert, he was sent abroad and served his country honorably from 1943-1945 on the Pacific front of World War II, in New Guinea, Australia, and the Philippines. He was assigned to a unit that planned upcoming invasions on the enemy. After surviving a particularly dangerous episode of Kamikaze air attacks and bombings, known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf, he was moved to Manila, where he spent the remainder of the war providing assistance in rebuilding the city. After the war ended, Alfred returned home where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service.

He resumed his studies, briefly attending the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, respectively, before graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1947 with a degree in finance. He remained in Oklahoma City, working for his family’s company, Karchmer Iron & Metal Co., before deciding to change course and move to sunny Southern California. He lived in Los Angeles for the next 25 years, where he met and married his first wife, Barbara, with whom he had his only child, Donald B. Karchmer, in 1963. After his first marriage ended, Alfred returned to his hometown and raised Donald as a single father. In 1978, he started his own business, International Pipe. During the years of hard work that followed, Alfred and Donald became quite the father-son team in business and in life, growing International Pipe into one of the leading steel pipe distributors in the United States. Alfred, known for his strong-willed and driven nature, refused to retire and continued working until after his 100th birthday. His company will celebrate its 45th anniversary this year and remains family-owned and -operated.

Just a few years after starting his business, Alfred met and married the love of his life, Marsha Segell Karchmer, to whom he remained happily married until her death in 2020. They were a wonderful match and enjoyed an active social life, with Marsha’s outgoing personality complimenting Alfred’s more reserved and soft-spoken nature. Above everything else, he was passionate about his family, which was exemplified by the incredibly strong relationships he had with his two grandchildren.

Alfred is survived by his son, Donald B. Karchmer, daughter-in-law, Hilary Karchmer, and grandchildren, Sam and Haley Karchmer. He is also survived by his stepsons, Michael and Mark Korngute, as well as his niece, Leslie Friedlander, and nephew, Steve Friedlander. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marsha Karchmer, mother, Rose Karchmer Sugerman, father, Louis Karchmer, and sister, Annette Karchmer Friedlander. The graveside service will take place at 10:30am CST on Friday, January 6, 2023 at Temple B’nai Israel Cemetery, located within Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City (use the far south entrance on Kelley Avenue). At 11:30am, a memorial service, with a lunch to follow, will take place at Temple B'nai Israel, 4901 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City, OK. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Temple B’nai Israel Music Fund or the Rose Karchmer Sugerman Fund at The Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The family would like to thank all of Alfred’s wonderful doctors, nurses, and caregivers for their dedication and kindness, especially his devoted, longtime caregiver, Helen Petties. Arrangements are under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors.