Roberta "June" Willingham

Roberta “June” (Collier) Willingham was born June 1, 1928 to Mary Edith and Clinton Elvis Collier of Anadarko, Oklahoma.  When she was born, she was so small that she had to be carried on a pillow to keep her from slipping through her mother’s arms.  She joined her two older sisters Georgie and Geraldine, and they were soon joined by younger brothers, James, Bobby, and Jack.  To her brothers and sisters, she was known as “June Bug” or occasionally just “Bug”. 

She graduated from Anadarko High School in 1946 and on her nineteenth birthday she was married to the love of her life, Joe Hillman Willingham.  They were soon blessed with two daughters, Linda and Merry.

June made her profession of faith and was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Anadarko as a young girl.  She later attended Bethel Baptist Church and when she moved to Broken Arrow, she joined Aspen Park Baptist Church.  She was honored to teach alongside Mrs. Anna Kerr in the Ladies Hope class.  June loved her church and the ladies of her class.  June exemplified the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

She worked for the Anadarko Tag Agency before taking a job with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation during construction of the Ft. Cobb Reservoir and later worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in oil and gas leases.  In 1977, she was offered a job with Helmerich and Payne where she worked until her retirement.

She served as President of the Tulsa Desk and Derrik Club and President of the Broken Arrow Lioness Club.  She later served many years as secretary of the Tenkiller Jamboree.  She also enjoyed making Christmas goodies which she shared with family, friends, and co-workers.  She also enjoyed crochet and needle point.  But she and Joe loved camping out with their CB friends especially at Tenkiller Jamboree and the group known as the Cow Pasture Campers.

June is survived by her nieces, Pauletta Stowe, Lynn Dudley and husband Bob, Monletta Crumpler, and Seamon Crumpler; nephews, Sam Hyden and wife Debbie, Glenn Collier, Randy Collier and wife Lenora, and Scott Collier; 6 great nieces; 5 great nephews; 9 great-great nieces and nephews; as well as many dear friends including her new friends from Encompass Hospice who cared for her so lovingly as family.

She was preceded in moving into Heaven by her loving husband of 63 years, Joe Willingham, her parents, Edith and Clinton Collier, her sisters, Georgie and Geraldine, her brothers, Bobby, James, and Jack, and one great nephew, Ronnie Dudley.

A memorial service celebrating June’s life will be at 1:00 PM on Monday, May 9, 2022 at Aspen Park Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Family and friends may share memories online at www.brownfamilycares.com.  The family of Roberta “June” Willingham entrusted her care and cremation to Brown Funeral Home & Cremations, 231 E. Commercial St., Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012, 918-251-5331.

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