Obituary: John Ray White

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John Ray White of Sand Springs, Oklahoma went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at the age of 73. Viewing will be held from 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, 2023, followed by Rosary Service at 6:00 p.m. at Trout Funeral Home in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Tonkawa, OK. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, 1206 Waverly, Ponca City, OK. following the mass. Pallbearers include: son Brian White, sons-in-law Michael Cabe and Ben Gislason, and nephews Reece Simpson, Owen Simpson, and Kort Davis.

John was born on August 22, 1949 to Fred White and Martina White in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He attended Washington Elementary School and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1967. He was active in American Legion baseball, and a member of the 3rd place team at State. John served a four-year tour of duty with the United States Navy at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida. He achieved AT3 rank status and was a member of the squadron softball league. When his service was complete, he attended Northern Oklahoma College where "Skeeter" played shortstop for the All-Conference NOC Varsity baseball team, and met his future bride. He married Susan Schiltz on August 15, 1975 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. They went on to Oklahoma State University where John graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1977. The couple moved to Tulsa and subsequently Sand Springs where they raised three children.

John had a long, successful career in the chemical distribution industry. He started out at Kimbell Chemical and then worked for Advance Chemical as Account Manager. He was promoted to Branch Manager at the Summit division of HCI which then became Brenntag, located at the Port of Catoosa where he found a love for AJ’s Heavenly Pizza. He retired as VP of Sales from Brainerd Chemical in 2016. John enjoyed softball league, golf, fishing, cooking his specialties, playing pool with his grandkids, and in former years he loved showing his 2007 Shelby GT Mustang and racing his Mazda Miata. John and Susan enjoyed attending OSU football games and wrestling duals, playing card games with friends and family, and attending concerts. His orneriness and sense of humor were two of his most endearing qualities. John was a faithful servant of the Lord and a member of Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa.

John was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Martina White. John is survived by his lifelong love, Susan; his treasured children, including daughter Tressa Gislason (Ben) of Charleston, SC, Megan Cabe (Michael) of Sand Springs, OK, and son Brian White of Denver, CO; his precious grandchildren, including Vera and Raef Gislason, and Macey Cabe; his beloved sister Karen Kay Long (Gary) of OKC, OK and cousins Steve Stewart (Donna), Jan Wilson (Jeff), Cindy Fein (Lowell), and Sheryl Lippert (Doyle); and many cherished sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and extended family; and finally, his faithful canine companion, Chip.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John's honor to the Wounded Warrior Project, a cause which was very dear to his heart.

Everything you need to know about tonight's Homecoming game

2020 Homecoming Queen Corri Evans and Kissing Captain Sango Whitehorn

No. 5 Sand Springs (3-0) vs unranked Ponca City (1-2).

Memorial Stadium
600 North Adams Road
Sand Springs, OK 74127

Homecoming Court at 6:30 p.m.
Kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

Inside concessions benefit the Gold Pride Marching Band. Church That Matters pre-game tailgate outside the stadium benefits the Sandite Wrestling team and begins at 6:00 p.m.

Don't forget to stop by the Inkwell Printing official gameday booth for all your Sandite Spirit Wear!

Through three games...

Ty Pennington is 48 of 73 passing for 735 yards, 10 TDs, and 1 int this season. He's currently ranked No. 3 in the Tulsa World's All-World Top Ten Players list.

Blake Jones is 61-477 rushing for 7 TDs.

Receiving leaders

Brody Rutledge, 15-273, 3 TDs
Jacob Blevins 13-173, 2 TDs
Keaton Campbell 13-163, 3 TDs
Ryan Shoemaker 6-74, 2 TDs

Defensive playmakers

Brooks Dudley 29 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks
Drake Fain 23 tackles, 1 for loss
Gabe Brown 19 tackles, 3 for loss, 1.5 sacks
Landon Hendricks 17 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks
Charles Gaylord 16 tackles, 2 for loss
Conner Light 15 tackles, 1 for loss
Ryder Barnes 15 tackles, 0.5 for loss
Chase White 6 tackles, 1 int

Landon Wolfe is 12-of-14 on PATs and 1-of-1 on field goals with a long of 27 yards.

Sand Springs vs. Ponca City History

The Sandites' last 3-0 start was in 2012 when they went 6-0 before falling to Union.

Sand Springs beat Ponca City 35-10 last year on the road, but the Wildcats won 24-14 the last time they were in Sand Springs.

Pennington is 31-52-438-1 passing with 3 passing TDs and one rushing TD in his two games against the Wildcats. Campbell was 6-134 receiving against the Wildcats in 2019 and 10-138 with 2 TDs in 2020.

Sand Springs leads the all-time series 26-20-1.

The first-ever meeting was 1952 in a Thanksgiving day playoff that Ponca won 27-9.

The only tie in the series was 7-7 in 1953.

In 1954 the Sandites came back from a 20-point deficit to win 21-20 with future MLB star Jerry Adair at quarterback.

In 1981 the Sandites won 31-24 on the road in triple overtime.

The Sandites have met the Wildcats once before with a 3-0 record and they won 14-13 in 1987. Not including season openers, Sand Springs is 3-0 against the Wildcats when defending an undefeated record.

The Sandites have played Ponca at least thrice before on Homecoming. In 1988 Sand Springs won 20-0, Ponca won 30-14 in 1994, and Sand Springs won 56-35 in 2016.

Ponca City's biggest win in the series was 48-2 in 2003. Sand Springs's biggest win was 57-7 in 2013. The highest total score in the series was a 56-35 Sandite win in 2016.

Sand Springs has pitched four shutouts in the series and has only been shut out once. The last shutout was a 21-0 Sandite win in 2006.

All in the family...

Brett Pennington was 2-1 against Ponca (22-15, 28-0, 13-21)

Caden Pennington was 2-0 against Ponca (42-7, 35-14)

Ty Pennington is 1-1 against Ponca (14-24, 35-10)

Ty Pennington is 2-0 on Homecoming, beating Muskogee 45-14 as a junior and Shawnee 21-19 as a sophomore.

Sand Springs man celebrates birthday at Wheeler Dealers Camping Club November campout

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Wheeler Dealers Camping Club members gather for the traditional campout group photo at Hulah Lake. SUBMITTED.

“An Oklahoma Thanksgiving” was the theme for the final Wheeler Dealers Camping Club campout of 2020 held the second weekend of November at Hulah Lake Wah-Sha-She campground near Bowring, OK. 

Hosts for the November campout were Bartlesville members Joe and Pat Brown and Ponca City members Lowry and Rebecca Blakeburn. Members were glad to once again greet each other including new members this year Bill and Pam Doyle, Sand Springs and Vie and Charley Bottger, Ponca City.

 Everyone attending gathered on Thursday and enjoyed a blazing campfire that evening. Carrying on with the Oklahoma Thanksgiving theme Friday afternoon members made pine cone turkeys to use in Thanksgiving decorations. That evening the group met up with three other Bartlesville members who weren’t camping this time, but joined the others for steak dinners at Buck’s BBQ in Sedan, KS. While there the group celebrated Bill Doyle’s birthday.

Saturday members began working on their special dishes for that evening’s Oklahoma Thanksgiving dinner served pot luck style. The menu included ham, turkey and dressing, mashed and sweet potatoes, and a variety of other sides and desserts. That afternoon members sampled various Oklahoma brewed beers provided by the hosts and voted on their favorite. Also drawings were held for door prizes provided by Bell Camper Sales, Bartlesville.

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Bill Doyle, Sand Springs, celebrated his birthday over dinner at Buck's BBQ in Sedan, KS during the Wheeler Dealers November campout. SUBMITTED.

Sunday morning following a potluck breakfast, the business meeting was held with Lowry Blakeburn, president, presiding. He shared information from Gary and Nancy Shepard about the annual Christmas Party to be held at the McCord Senior Center in Ponca City. Since that time the group, concerned about rising Covid rates, has decided to postpone the party this December and look at gathering again in February.

Wheeler Dealers monthly campouts usually are held weekends from March to August with a lunch or breakfast gathering in February and a special Christmas Party in December.  Members can make their own reservations at many of the Corps lakes through recreation.gov, the Corps of Engineers reservation service. 

Current members are from Bartlesville, Ponca City, Sand Springs and Norman.  However, anyone from northern Oklahoma or southern Kansas is invited to join.

Persons interested in joining or knowing more about the Wheeler Dealers Camping Club should contact Lowry, president, at 580-304-5445 in Ponca City or Joe, secretary, at 918-977-0805 in Bartlesville.

Sand Springs couple joins Wheeler Dealers Camping Club

Four new couples at the Wheeler Dealers Camping Club October campout were from left Bill and Pam Doyle, Sand Springs; Larry and Elaine Stevens, Bartlesville; Mark and Donna Metevia, Norman; and Charley and Vie Bottger, Ponca City.

Wheeler Dealers Camping Club members created gnomes during their craft time at the monthly campout. Pictured from left are Ellen Cobb, Ponca City; Pam Doyle, Sand Springs and Linda Long, Ponca City.

Sand Springs residents Bill and Pam Doyle enjoy a pot luck dinner during the Wheeler Dealers Camping Club campout at El Dorado State Park in October.

Story and photos submitted by Kathy Tippin.

Sand Springs residents Bill and Pam Doyle joined the Wheeler Dealers Camping Club at the El  Dorado State Park in Kansas this month. 

 Hosts for the October campout were Bartlesville members Clarence and Karla Hill and Gary and Charlotte Piersall. The campout had an Oktoberfest theme. Fifteen couples from Ponca City, Norman, Sand Springs, Wichita and Bartlesville pulled into the campground including three new couples, Bill and Pam Doyle, Sand Springs; Mark and Donna Metevia, Norman; and Larry and Elaine Stevens, Bartlesville. Also joining was Charlotte Piersall’s brother from Wichita. 

Some members arrived on Wednesday with the majority arriving on Thursday and the rest on Friday.  Thursday evening the group feasted on Mexican food served pot luck style with more than enough food for everyone from tamales and enchiladas to taco’s and queso.

Friday morning some of the Wheeler Dealers visited the Kansas Oil Museum in El Dorado while others participated in making gnomes. The Kansas Oil Museum is one of the state’s largest museums focusing on the history of the early 20th century oil industry. The history of Butler County KS is preserved from the earliest days of Native American tribes and pioneers, to small-town and ranch life. The group enjoyed exhibits both inside and outside.

Gnomes were the craft project for others organized by Karla Hill and Charlotte Piersall. A Styrofoam cone wound with yarn placed on top of a wine bottle formed the hat with a beard of fur placed below covering the bottle topped off with a small wood nose.  Inside each gnome was placed a string of lights that when turned on shines through the beard making a festive fall German style gnome.

Friday afternoon members challenged each other with games of Corn Hole and Horse Shoes. Saturday evening prizes were awarded to Ellen Cobb, Women’s Corn Hole champion and Joe Brown, Men’s Corn Hole Champion.          

Friday evening the Hills and Piersalls continued with the Oktoberfest theme with a German Oktoberfeast preceded by sampling of various German beers. On the menu were various sausages grilled by Gary Piersall. Also featured were German potato salad, red cabbage, and a cucumber salad. Members enjoyed sitting around the campfire that evening getting to know the newer members.

Saturday Wheeler Dealers spent the day in nearby Wichita. First stop was the Nifty Nut House, established in 1937. Known for its vast assortment of nuts and candies, members shopped for various specialty nuts and candies to take home. From there some of the members ate lunch in Wichita’s Old Town and met up with the rest of the group at the Old Cowtown Museum. There they toured this version of early day Wichita from 1865-1880 including houses to churches to various businesses. The 54 historic and recreated buildings tell the story of Wichita’s early days. Wheeler Dealer member Nancy Murdock Shepard enjoyed reading about her relative Marshall M. Murdock, the founder and editor of the Wichita Eagle in the Wichita City Eagle Print Shop.

Saturday night each couple prepared a soup, salad or dessert to be served to the group pot luck style.  This was followed by three tables playing Mexican Train. 

Sunday morning following a potluck breakfast, the business meeting was held with Lowry Blakeburn, president, presiding. Joe Brown told about the upcoming November Wheeler Dealers campout at Wa Sha She, Hulah Lake’s campground hosted by Joe and Pat Brown and Lowry and Rebecca Blakeburn. The group will eat at Buck’s Steakhouse in Sedan, KS Friday night. The campout theme will be Oklahoma Thanksgiving with a Saturday night pot luck dinner featuring various traditional Thanksgiving dinner foods.

Wheeler Dealers monthly campouts usually are held weekends from March to August with a lunch or breakfast gathering in February and a special Christmas Party in December. Members can make their own reservations at many of the Corps lakes through recreation.gov, the Corps of Engineers reservation service. 

Current members are from Bartlesville, Ponca City, Sand Springs and Norman. However, anyone from northern Oklahoma or southern Kansas is invited to join.

Persons interested in joining or knowing more about the Wheeler Dealers Camping Club should contact Lowry, president, at 580-304-5445 in Ponca City or Joe, secretary, at 918-977-0805 in Bartlesville.

CPHS Wrestling: Sandites win fifth-straight District Championship - presented by Inkwell Printing

The Class 6A No. 10 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team (10-5) won their sixth-straight dual and fifth-straight District Championship Tuesday afternoon at Clyde Boyd Middle School, 65-12 against Muskogee (1-4). It also clinched their fifth-straight ten-win season.

Coverage of the tournament is sponsored by Inkwell Printing, the official provider of Sand Springs spirit wear. Inkwell serves the entire greater Tulsa Metropolitan area and provides high quality products, including jerseys, spirit wear, coaches’ polos, promotional items, business cards, and more. Visit them today at their Sand Springs print shop, or in the Ed Dubie Field House at home sports events.

Inkwell Printing
1 West 41st Street
Sand Springs, OK 74063
(918) 508-3634

Sand Springs lost only two matches, received five forfeits, and recorded four pins and one tech fall in their biggest win of the season.

Caden Vaughn (9-3) received a forfeit at 120 to start the dual, then Ethan Norton (5-15, 5-20) pinned Dayton Bowlin in 13 seconds, Carter Goodman (8-9) received a forfeit, Blake Jones (21-7, 47-21) scored a 15-0 second period technical fall against Davaun Jones, and Preston Medlin (17-12, 30-34) pinned Jason Coston in 1:22 for the 29-0 lead.

Antonio Zapia got the Roughers on the board with a pin of Chase White (8-18, 8-20), but the Sandites went right back to winning after Chris Kirby (25-8, 83-32) and Dakota Taylor (3-15, 3-22) picked up forfeits. Tegan Campbell (1-0) won his varsity debut match by pinning Ty Williams in 3:46, then Brooks Dudley (21-14, 31-22) received a forfeit and Santana Naugle (1-5, 4-14) escaped with a 1-0 win against Kenan Adams.

State Qualifier Devion Williams was the next and last Rougher to score, pinning Robbie Parrish (7-14, 9-29) at 285. Shane Wolf (12-12) won a 13-7 decision over Jacob Wolf, then Harley Newberry (7-11) pinned Haden Scraper in 34 seconds to finish the tournament.

Sand Springs wrestling will return to action Thursday at 7:00 p.m. with a road dual against No. 6 Jenks (5-1). With the district title clinched, they will advance to the Dual State Championship in Enid on February 14th.

CPHS Wrestling: Sandites win fourth-straight dual 45-28 against Ponca City - presented by Inkwell Printing

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The Class 6A No. 10 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team (8-5) won their fourth-straight dual Tuesday afternoon at Clyde Boyd Middle School, 45-28 against No. 19 Ponca City (2-6) in the first round of the District Dual tournament. The Sandites are in search of their fifth-straight District title and will also take on Muskogee (1-2) and Sapulpa (2-3) today.

Coverage of the tournament is sponsored by Inkwell Printing, the official provider of Sand Springs spirit wear. Inkwell is currently taking orders for Sandite Tennis shirts ahead of the Spring season. Shirts can be ordered by contacting Coach Neely Flood at 918-645-1473 and proceeds from each shirt sold will benefit the teams.

Inkwell Printing
1 West 41st Street
Sand Springs, OK 74063
(918) 508-3634

Shane Wolf gave up a 13-2 major decision to Preston Lee at 106, but battled out of a dangerous position late in the third that could easily have turned into a tech or pin. Mitchell Smith gave the home team the lead with a pin of Jack Swenson in 1:49.

The Sandites benefited from two returners who have been out with injury. Caden Vaughn got a 4-2 decision over State Qualifier Ethan Kemble, then Seth Jones won an 8-2 decision against Ryker Agee for the 12-4 lead. 

Gabe Rowland pinned Carter Goodman to even up the dual score, but Blake Jones got the home team back on track with a 5-0 decision against Cameron Jackson, followed by a pin from Preston Medlin against State Qualifier Shayden Trant in 5:40.

Rayden Agee pinned Chase White, Chris Kirby pinned Michael Rutledge in 0:56, then Joseph Leauitt pinned Dakota Taylor and Landon Newlin pinned Sango Whitehorn to reclaim the lead at 28-27. 

Thomas Naugle picked up a forfeit to put the Sandites back out front, and Brooks Dudley clinched the dual with an easy pin against Chase Mehl in 3:51. Josh Fincannon bumped up to heavyweight and iced the cake with a pin of H.B. Bowers in 4:43.

City of Sand Springs receives award for Water Fluoridation Quality

Shell Lake is one of two water sources for Sand Springs, the other being Skiatook Lake.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) recently announced that 13 water systems have been awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the year 2018.

Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those communities which achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent optimal level of fluoride in drinking water throughout 2018.

During 2018, a total of 1,656 public water systems in 30 states received these awards, including 13 in Oklahoma.

“The Oklahoma State Department of Health supports community water fluoridation and recognizes the practice as beneficial to all who drink and use the water,” said Dr. Jana Winfree, director of the OSDH Dental Health Service. “Preventive dental care programs, such as community water fluoridation, make a real difference in improving the health of Oklahomans.”

Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. CDC recommends water fluoridation as one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable, and safe measures a community can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health.

“Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make in maintaining the oral health of its citizens. It is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults,” said Casey Hannan, acting director of the CDC Division of Oral Health. “Fluoridation is also highly cost effective. Studies continue to show that for every $1 a community invests in water fluoridation, $20 are saved in dental treatment costs.”

The following water systems received awards:

• Bartlesville

• Chickasha Municipal Authority

• Madill

• Muskogee

• Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority (OOWA) – Pryor

• Oklahoma City – Draper

• Oklahoma State University – Stillwater

• Ponca City Municipal Water

• City of Sand Springs

• Stillwater

• Tahlequah – Tenkiller

• Tulsa – A.B. Jewell

• Tulsa – Mohawk