Rowena Ruth Gilstrap

May 25, 1932 - October 29, 2019

Rowena R. (Brady) Gilstrap longtime Sentinel resident passed from this life and entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on October 29, 2019 at age 87 in Edmond, Oklahoma. She was born on February 25, 1932 in Clinton, Okla., to Herbert Brady and Cleo Hester (Clark) Brady. Rowena grew up and attended school in Clinton graduating in 1950. While in high school she met the love of her life, Lonnie Thomas Gilstrap, after he dropped his school book and Rowena chased him up the school stairs to give it back to him. They were married on July 23, 1950 in Portales, New Mexico and enjoyed over sixty-one years of marriage before Lonnie’s passing in 2011. She began her career in Civil Service at Ft. Sill in 1951, starting in publications and was transferred to Ft. Rucker in Alabama in 1954 and processed the records of the first graduating class of the Army Aviation School in 1955. She served in many positions throughout her career in civil service at the Altus Air Force Base. As the chief of her branch, she purchased and administered all service contracts such as custodial services, military family housing maintenance and ground maintenance. The branch also purchased all contract repair services. After thirty-seven years, she retired in 1989. While working at the Base, she completed her Associates Degree at Western Oklahoma State College in 1983. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Sentinel, member of The Port Country Cousin’s, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. Rowena enjoyed crocheting, knitting, reading and was Lonnie’s right hand throughout their life together. She is survived by two daughters: Carolyn Cole and husband Rick of Edmond and Deborah Ratliff and husband Rick of Norman, one sister Delores Beauchamp of Arapaho, two sisters-in-law: Nadine Brady of Clinton and Patsy Brady of Texas. Rowena leaves a legacy of seven grandchildren: Lonnie Thomas Gilstrap II and wife Jessica of Washington State, Lane Owen Gilstrap and wife Summer of Broken Arrow, Logan Mitchell Gilstrap of Weatherford, James Tanner Cole of Edmond, Rachel Nicole Ratliff and Sarah Elise Ratliff of Norman, Sean Ratliff and wife Katie of Moore, and five great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Josephine, Lonnie Thomas III, Landon, Lucas and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Rowena was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Lonnie, her son Lonnie Herbert, brothers Roger L. Brady and Herbert Ross Brady. Services for Rowena are scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2019, 11:00 A.M. at Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home Chapel located at 1400 West Main, Lone Wolf, OK, 580-846-9018. Kelly Smith will officiate with interment following at Sentinel Cemetery. Public viewing for Rowena will begin Friday, November 1, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at People’s Funeral Home with family receiving friends beginning at 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Memorials for Rowena can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. On-line condolences can be made by visiting www.peoplescooperativefuneralhome.com