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John Olen Denbo
December 20, 1924 - July 15, 2009

Funeral service for John Olen Denbo will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 18, at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Ray Crawford officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Friday 1-8 p.m.

John died Wed., July 15, 2009, at his home at the age of 84.

The son of Oce and Dora (Patrick) Denbo was born Dec. 20, 1924, in Claremore. John graduated from Claremore High School in 1943, and Oklahoma University with a degree in business in 1950. His education also includes graduate work at Oklahoma University and special courses at New York University and Dale Carnegie Sales Course. While at OU John was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and served many offices. He received the Outstanding Aluni for the first 25 years of the OU Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter. John served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45, and 1950-52. On June 17, 1961, John married Bernice Beck.

In 1954, John opened Denbo's Jewelers, and in 1955 opened Wigwam Chicken Hut and Trading Post. He was active in Claremore civic work, and has served as president of the Jacees, Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Club, Retail Merchants Association, and the Ne-Mar Merchants Association. He was founder and first president of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Association of Rogers County, president of Oklahoma Retail Jewelers and National Retail Jewelers Association. He founded the Claremore Tourist Association and served as president several terms. He is also past president of the Optimist Club. John served as general chairman of the Will Rogers Rodeo Committee, chairman of the First United Methodist Church budget committee, and as a board member of the Claremore Industrial Authority. He was also named to the Will Rogers Memorial Commission in 1979. Since 1970, he has been a director of the First National Bank of Claremore.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice of the home; children: Jana Janell Smith of Edmond, and Gregory Allen Denbo of Oklahoma City; grandchildren:

 Tyson, Julie, Trent, and Crystal Walker, Justin Smith, and Jordan Smith; 6 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John is preceded in death by his first wife, Bobbie; his parents; brother, Orman Joseph Denbo; and sisters: Bertha Ocie Mayberry, Oma Belle Harbaugh, and Erma O'Dora Robinson.

 

Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge

John Denbo was my great uncle.

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