Dillis L. Hart

His parents were hard-working sharecroppers, and he spent his young life moving from farm to farm mostly in the area of eastern OK near Lake Eufaula. As the second youngest of 12, his eldest siblings were quite often the ones who helped raise him in his younger years. Each sibling was tasked to help support the family as soon as they were able. He told stories of driving a delivery truck of watermelons in his preteen years and helping his brothers make these trips over the back roads of eastern Oklahoma. This upbringing fostered a strong work ethic and bond with his family but also a desire to have a more stable life.

He graduated from Checotah High School shortly after his 17th birthday in 1953. After working various jobs and briefly attending Oklahoma A & M he enlisted in the Air Force on his 18th birthday. It was this decision that helped significantly change his life’s focus. Initially stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, his service took him all over the country even for a brief stay at a base in Thule, Greenland. Most importantly though it led him to Altus, OK where he met a beautiful local girl, Beverly Stallings. They married shortly afterward in 1957. Serving as an air force medic Dillis developed a strong interest in medicine. Growing up in a loving yet nomadic and impoverished family he wanted to provide a more stable life for his wife and children.

After finishing his service in the Air Force he entered Central State University in Edmond, OK and subsequently attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma. After graduation he began residency in General Surgery at St Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS. He developed a bond to Wichita and chose to call it his home where he had a medical practice for over 30 years. In his practice he was able to utilize a gift in connecting with his patients because he had true empathy and love for each of them. An affable, calm, and welcoming demeanor immediately made patients feel safe and comforted. He regularly made house calls if they couldn’t make it to the clinic or to just check in. He was their doctor, advocate and friend, truly caring for them like family.

Family is what was at the very heart of all that Dillis did. He became a beacon of stability, support and leadership to both his immediate and extended family. “Uncle Bob” or “Bobby” as he was known to most of his family was always there to take a call in the middle of the night, drive hours at the drop of a hat to be with someone in need, or write his many letters of encouragement when a family crisis arose. He never said no to a request for help. To help keep a large extended family close, he organized a yearly family reunion that fostered a continued family togetherness when it could have been so easy to lose touch.

Dillis was an active member for many years at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita. For almost 30 years he taught a singles Sunday school class at Immanuel. His class was popular not only because of his teaching but his compassion for each individual in his class. He regularly organized class trips to further develop class camaraderie and personal connections to God. This devotion to his faith and his class created life long friendships which he cherished.

As a Dad and Grandpa he had such a strong presence. He worked long hours with a rare day off. Yet he enjoyed his work and never came home angry or upset. He loved to cook for his family and was known for some of his gastronomic creations such as his oatmeal, post holiday “soup,” hearty salads, and various takes on “gravy.” Some are still talking points to this day. His family car trips became a regular event whenever family would visit. Somehow he always could find a “scenic” route, which usually meant ending up on a dirt road, which at some point had a dead end. Looking back, all of it was meant to bring together and spend time with his family and friends. Whenever one of his sons messed up a ping pong ball catapult for a school project, knocked the side view mirror off a car, wrecked a car, or needed a helping hand he was always there…ALWAYS providing reassurance and motivation. We will miss the motor home trips to Colorado, van drives to family reunions, hearing his steady focused voice when dictating notes for a patients’ chart while we watched TV, his continuous picture taking and home videos, and his holiday culinary creations. Most of all we will miss his love, kindness, generosity and unyielding support.

Dillis was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 64 years, Beverly; his parents, George and Ada; 10 brothers and sisters; and grandson Brennan. He is survived by his brother George Jr.; sons Steven (Sandra), Dillis II, Davin (Phoebe); grandchildren Dylan, Danielle, Diedra, Bryant, Anna Marie, Mason, and Paige; great granddaughter Evalynn.