Newton Thomas Newell

Newton Thomas Newell has taken a trip €“ from his Earthly life to his Heavenly life. He began his journey on earth November 8, 1913 in Della Plain, Arkansas. His joyful parents were Victoria Rayburn Newell and Thomas Franklin Newell. His delighted older sister was Stella €“ just 18 months older. Later €“ just 18 months after Newt, another joy entered the home €“ a younger sister, Lucille.
When Newt was six months old, the lure of the oil fields brought the family to Beggs, Oklahoma. The Newell family lived in Okmulgee and in the rural areas in Okmulgee County and Seminole County while his father worked as a pumper in the oil fields.
When Newt was 13, a tragedy befell the family. Newt's mother died leaving 3 grieving children. At age 15, Newt's father abandoned him at Conner's State College which was also a boarding school for high school students in Warner, Oklahoma. Newt quickly made the transition from childhood to adulthood because his father never contributed another cent to his support nor wrote him a letter nor communicated with him again. He was forced to become completely self-sufficient from that point on. When only 15 years old, he accepted the responsibilities of adulthood. Being strong academically, Newt excelled in his classes, becoming a member of the National Honor Society while still arising at 4:00am every morning to milk 10 cows before breakfast. Then at 4:00pm when the athletic teams went to practice, Newt went back to the dairy to again milk those same 10 cows. During the summers while a student at Connors, he worked on the college farm which included working in the hay fields and driving a team of horses.
You could say, he milked his way through high school. Following high school graduation, Newt entered college at Connors State College. By now, he was employed at the college's newspaper office €“ doing all the jobs involving the printing of a newspaper. He also played the guitar for school entertainment.
He graduated with an associate degree in 1934. He soon found himself in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the midst of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce. He pumped gas at a €œfilling station€ for $10.00 a week with the fringe benefit of sleeping in a back room on a bare mattress on a bare floor.
Deciding $1.43 a day wasn't a living wage, he persevered once again. Newt enrolled in Tulsa Business College taking typing, accounting and other business classes. He earned his tuition and books by becoming the general gofer and handy man at the college. In order to eat, he worked at the downtown cafeteria everyday during the lunch and supper periods. During the evenings and on weekends he worked as an usher at the downtown Ritz and Orpheum theaters.
After finishing his business college classes, he soon was employed by the Texaco Oil Company, spending most of his time in the production department, where he remained for 53 years. During his tenure he was responsible for jobs in Tulsa, Ardmore, Oklahoma City, and out of state projects. Then back to Tulsa where he retired. During his tenure with Texaco he prepared legal documents for land work, damages, mineral rights, leases and ownership. He could name every county in Oklahoma €“ all 77 of them and name the county seat --- all 77 of them. In addition, he could name many of the county clerks with whom he worked.
During World War II when it was mandatory for males over age 18 to register for the military draft, Newt was classified 1-A (one A) the highest classification to be eligible to be €œcalled up.€ Several times during the war, whenever Newt's number €œcame up€, Texaco requested a deferment, citing the necessity of his job which helped to keep the oil flowing for defense and maintenance of the war effort. Consequently, he was not a military veteran, although his job and efforts contributed to the victory of the allied forces. Newt enjoyed playing the guitar and frequently joined bands when they played at nursing homes and for dances.
Bowling was a favorite activity and his team experienced several first place trophies.
On January 1, 1940, he married Rosemary Phillips, who was the mother of his four children: Lawrence Wayne, Thomas Phillip, Vicki Margaret and Rita Suzanne.
Nine years after the divorce, Newt and Leona Ann Wiggs were united in holy matrimony in Tulsa where they became members of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Newt and Leona Ann have lived their 23 years of marriage in Tulsa where they enjoyed dancing and playing bridge, and taking bus tours.
Newt was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Lucille Brown and a son, Larry, and a grandson Spence Newell.
Surviving in addition to his wife Leona Ann, are his son Tommy and his wife Phyllis of Oklahoma City; a daughter Vickie and her husband Monte Wheeler of Wilson, North Carolina; a daughter Rita and her husband Michael McDonald of Dandridge, Tennessee. Newt also enjoyed his three step-children, Diana Wiggs Ball of Tulsa, Brian Wiggs of Tulsa and David Wiggs of Enid. Also surviving him are three granddaughters, Kristin Wheeler Hite, Ashley Wheeler, and Gayle Marie Villarreal; a sister Stella Hazelton, plus 7 step-grandchildren; and two nephews Robert Hazelton and Floyd Newton Brown.
Newt was with his earthly family until December 5, 2005 when he went to his heavenly father at the age of 92 years and 27 days. Memorial Service will be held at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday December 9, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at the Okmulgee, Oklahoma Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to Daniel C. Schaudt of Schaudt's Glenpool Funeral Service & Cremation Care. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com