James "Jim" Wolfinbarger

James Russell Wolfinbarger

Jim Wolfinbarger, age 86, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, passed away Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

He was born July 1, 1938, in Raton, New Mexico, to William and Anne (Grubesic) Wolfinbarger.

Jim lived in Farley, New Mexico, in the back of a bar and boarding house run by his dad and grandfather until 1942. The war took the family to Oklahoma City, where his dad worked at Tinker.

He attended Putnam City Schools and graduated from Putnam City High School in 1956. He attended Oklahoma State University for two years, where he studied both engineering and hotel and restaurant management and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was stationed briefly with the Air Force in Pensacola before returning to Oklahoma City.

Jim married the love of his life, Jerri Ruth Robertson, on September 16, 1967, at First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh. They spent a couple of years in Oklahoma City and Norman before moving to Tecumseh in 1969, where he resided for the rest of his life.

Jim worked as a grocery store manager for several companies, including Hagee Foods. He was entrusted with planning and opening new stores in Oklahoma City, Norman, and Shawnee. In the mid-1970s, he joined Scrivner as a retail advisor, where he helped independent store owners throughout central Oklahoma plan and run their businesses and led the development and opening of the Buy 4 Less chain of stores. His store owners valued his advice, honesty, and work ethic. Jim retired from the grocery business in the late 1990s. He then worked at Cooper Funeral Home for many years, retiring again upon his 80th birthday in 2018. After retirement, Jim continued to work performing landscaping, construction, and other tasks for friends and neighbors.

Jim was born into a Catholic family, but church did not play a big role in his life until he married Jerri and joined First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh. He served the Church in many roles over the years as deacon, elder, and treasurer. Jim taught the high school Sunday school class for many years. After First Presbyterian closed, he and Jerri attended elsewhere before joining Broadway United Methodist Church in Tecumseh, where they attended faithfully until his death. Though he often said he didn’t learn about God as a child, he grew to have a strong faith in adulthood and set an example through his presence, his gifts, and his service.

Although born in New Mexico and raised in Oklahoma City, Jim adopted Tecumseh and Tecumseh adopted him in return. He joined the Tecumseh Jaycees and helped with their annual fireworks display. Jim was a dedicated follower of Tecumseh High School athletics and activities, attending football and basketball games in support of family and friends. He lent his talents and opened his home to the design and construction of award-winning homecoming floats. Though he wasn’t a graduate of THS, he volunteered his time and effort in support of the Tecumseh Alumni Association, setting up for the annual banquet, and helping to computerize their member database for the first time in the mid-1980s. Jim stood for election to the school board and served a term on the housing board.

Jim loved returning to New Mexico, vacationing there with family several times to visit Red River and Eagle Nest Lake, where he recalled fishing with his grandfather as a child. He was always eager to hike to a mountain lake, visit an old mine, and climb the next hill or sand dune.

But Jim’s favorite hobby was work. He was always looking for a lawn to mow, a tree to trim, or a house to repair. He built treehouses and playhouses, installed a swimming pool, and worked with close friends to establish their weekend homes on Lake Eufaula. When we could get him to stop working, Jim enjoyed fishing, especially with his sons and grandkids. He spent countless hours conducting basketball drills with Rob and attending dance recitals for Kate.

Jim was a devout Sooner fan. He held season tickets for football as well as men’s and women’s basketball and attended many games with family and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, William and Anne Wolfinbarger, and by his brother, Robert Schuster.

Survivors include his wife of the home, Jerri Ruth Wolfinbarger; son and daughter in law, Mike and Kim Wolfinbarger of Norman, OK; son Bill Wolfinbarger of Stigler, OK; daughter Carrie Wolfinbarger of Fleming Island, FL; grandson, Rob Wolfinbarger of Tempe, AZ; granddaughter, Kate Wolfinbarger of Eugene, OR; sister, Carol Wolfinbarger, of Gun Barrel City, TX; extended family Bill and Kathy Zuker, Mike and Sheryl Zuker, Stephanie and Billy Davis, Barbara and Steve Shelton, and Donna and David Micham; and other extended family and friends.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26, 2024, at Cooper Funeral Home. Family will gather to meet with friends and family from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday, July 26, at Cooper Funeral Home. Service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 2, 2024, at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dave Poteet officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. Please join the celebration of Jim’s life through Cooper Funeral Home’s Facebook page for live streaming of the service.

Gifts in Jim’s memory may be given to the Tecumseh Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.