Obituary for Raymond Darrel Eikenbary
Raymond Darrell Eikenbary
Born in Quay, Oklahoma on November 2, 1929 to Grover Eikenbary and Edna Allen Eikenbary, He passed on September 9, 2017.
He is survived by his special friend, Liz Konigmacher. His former wife, Dolores Guinn, (Harold Guinn) and his children, Pam Guenther (Cris Bone), Darrell Eikenbary, Terry Shay and Dale Eikenbary. His grandchildren, Michelle Beck (Doug Beck), Jimmy Guenther (Jamie Guenther), Nikki Farrall (Josh Farrall), Jenni Eikenbary, Danielle Eikenbary, and Rachel Tischer (Matthew Tischer). Also, survived by eight great grandchildren and several special nieces and nephews, especially Loretta Tuttle and Stacey Tollette,
He was predeceased by his parents, sisters, Joyce Ray and June Boyd, brothers, Junior Eikenbary and Ralph Eikenbary. His son, Weldon Eikenbary, grandson, John Shay, and great grandson, Denton Shay.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Medical Division in the Korean Conflict as a medic, receiving the Korean Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, United Nations Service Medal and the Bronze Star. After serving his country, he attended Oklahoma State University obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Forestry.
He worked as a forester for the Bureau of Land Management in Pinedale, Wyoming before returning to Oklahoma as a county extension agent in Idabel, Oklahoma.
He received a grant to attend Clemson University in South Carolina obtaining his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Entomology. He returned to Oklahoma State University (OSU) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology becoming a Regents Professor and Professor Emeritus.
During his tenure at OSU, he was recognized for his teaching abilities, mentoring students and facilitating students in locating excellent employment opportunities. He conducted research on pecan weevils. Developing, in conjunction with the Noble Foundation, the first model to enable pecan growers to control weevils. His research had a long-term impact and increased pecan production nationally. Also, he conducted research on greenbug parasites. After training in a lab in Paris, France, he was one of the first researchers to import lady beetles from France to feed on the greenbugs to provide a natural biological method to control the parasites. He traveled the world to further his research including Africa, Australia, China, Europe, and South America.
He was very proud of his work at the USDA in Washington, DC during a sabbatical from OSU. He published many articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-authored scientific books and received many awards and accolades during his career. He was instrumental in the initiation of the OSU Credit Union and serving on the first audit team.
After retirement, he devoted more time to his passion of running 5K races and ran many races in Oklahoma and other states including Washington. Often recruiting his children and grandchildren to participate with him. He was always training for his next run and one of his favorites was Eskimo Joe’s Juke Joint Jog.
He loved life, his family, colleagues, graduate and undergraduate students, friends and God. He never met a stranger and always enjoyed making sure everyone had a good time. He enjoyed his friends at the Elks Lodge, Granny’s Kitchen and Total Health.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to his exceptional caregivers, Cathy Gil, Krissy Green and Kerri Cronin with Physician’s Choice Hospice; Jenni Eikenbary and Dale Eikenbary; Dr. Melchor Lim and Dr. Jon Pelzl.
Services will be held at Strode Funeral Home, on Saturday @ 10:30 a.m. with interment at Yale Cemetery. The pall bearers are Ted Barnes, Cris Bone, Jim Criswell, Dale Eikenbary, Jimmy Guenther, and Terry Imke. Honorary pall bearers are Dr. John Sauer, and all his graduate and undergraduate students. Visitation is Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Physician’s Choice Hospice, 14324 N. Western Avenue, Edmond, OK 73013 or the Humane Society of Stillwater, 1710 S. Main Street, Stillwater, OK 74074.
Condolences may be sent and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com
Born in Quay, Oklahoma on November 2, 1929 to Grover Eikenbary and Edna Allen Eikenbary, He passed on September 9, 2017.
He is survived by his special friend, Liz Konigmacher. His former wife, Dolores Guinn, (Harold Guinn) and his children, Pam Guenther (Cris Bone), Darrell Eikenbary, Terry Shay and Dale Eikenbary. His grandchildren, Michelle Beck (Doug Beck), Jimmy Guenther (Jamie Guenther), Nikki Farrall (Josh Farrall), Jenni Eikenbary, Danielle Eikenbary, and Rachel Tischer (Matthew Tischer). Also, survived by eight great grandchildren and several special nieces and nephews, especially Loretta Tuttle and Stacey Tollette,
He was predeceased by his parents, sisters, Joyce Ray and June Boyd, brothers, Junior Eikenbary and Ralph Eikenbary. His son, Weldon Eikenbary, grandson, John Shay, and great grandson, Denton Shay.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Medical Division in the Korean Conflict as a medic, receiving the Korean Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, United Nations Service Medal and the Bronze Star. After serving his country, he attended Oklahoma State University obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Forestry.
He worked as a forester for the Bureau of Land Management in Pinedale, Wyoming before returning to Oklahoma as a county extension agent in Idabel, Oklahoma.
He received a grant to attend Clemson University in South Carolina obtaining his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Entomology. He returned to Oklahoma State University (OSU) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology becoming a Regents Professor and Professor Emeritus.
During his tenure at OSU, he was recognized for his teaching abilities, mentoring students and facilitating students in locating excellent employment opportunities. He conducted research on pecan weevils. Developing, in conjunction with the Noble Foundation, the first model to enable pecan growers to control weevils. His research had a long-term impact and increased pecan production nationally. Also, he conducted research on greenbug parasites. After training in a lab in Paris, France, he was one of the first researchers to import lady beetles from France to feed on the greenbugs to provide a natural biological method to control the parasites. He traveled the world to further his research including Africa, Australia, China, Europe, and South America.
He was very proud of his work at the USDA in Washington, DC during a sabbatical from OSU. He published many articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-authored scientific books and received many awards and accolades during his career. He was instrumental in the initiation of the OSU Credit Union and serving on the first audit team.
After retirement, he devoted more time to his passion of running 5K races and ran many races in Oklahoma and other states including Washington. Often recruiting his children and grandchildren to participate with him. He was always training for his next run and one of his favorites was Eskimo Joe’s Juke Joint Jog.
He loved life, his family, colleagues, graduate and undergraduate students, friends and God. He never met a stranger and always enjoyed making sure everyone had a good time. He enjoyed his friends at the Elks Lodge, Granny’s Kitchen and Total Health.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to his exceptional caregivers, Cathy Gil, Krissy Green and Kerri Cronin with Physician’s Choice Hospice; Jenni Eikenbary and Dale Eikenbary; Dr. Melchor Lim and Dr. Jon Pelzl.
Services will be held at Strode Funeral Home, on Saturday @ 10:30 a.m. with interment at Yale Cemetery. The pall bearers are Ted Barnes, Cris Bone, Jim Criswell, Dale Eikenbary, Jimmy Guenther, and Terry Imke. Honorary pall bearers are Dr. John Sauer, and all his graduate and undergraduate students. Visitation is Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Physician’s Choice Hospice, 14324 N. Western Avenue, Edmond, OK 73013 or the Humane Society of Stillwater, 1710 S. Main Street, Stillwater, OK 74074.
Condolences may be sent and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com