Roy Schlemmer

Roy Edward Schlemmer, 97, of Enid, Oklahoma, passed from a long, happy, and healthy life on December 13, 2017. His family, friends, and the Enid community will celebrate and honor Roy 10:00 A.M. December 19, 2017 in the Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Phillip Wilson officiating, and the United States Navy will conduct military honors. After cremation, Roy will be interred at the Memorial Park Cemetery early next year.

Roy was born on November 10, 1920, in Saint Louis, Missouri. Roy was raised by his father George Schlemmer and stepmother Anna Opfer Schlemmer, both of whom he cherished and from whose example he learned to lead a good life. Roy attended the University of Missouri, played college football, and in 1943, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Roy was a junior when Pearl Harbor was attacked and immediately signed up with a Navy program that would allow him to graduate before being called up to serve. As a young ensign, Roy went to Hawaii, led landings in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944, and supported landings in Okinawa in 1945. In 1946, he was honorably discharged and returned home to Saint Louis.

In 1947, Roy married Virginia May Gibson and adopted her young son Robert “Buddy” Schlemmer. In 1954, Roy and Virginia May had a second son, David, who tragically died as an infant from a Wilms tumor. Roy and his family moved to Enid in 1954 for three years and settled in Enid for good in 1960. Roy and Virginia May were together until her death in 1988. Roy married Virginia Campbell and became a stepfather to her three adult children. Virginia Campbell Schlemmer remained Roy’s faithful wife and companion for 29 years until his death.

Throughout his life, Roy was passionate about the Presbyterian Church, the Republican Party, college sports, and his community in Enid. Roy dedicated his career to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In his retirement, he enjoyed golf, his dogs, making his lawn beautiful, running until his body eventually forced him to slow down, and having an active social life. Roy was a member of the Enid Chamber of Commerce, Enid Lions Club, Garfield Masonic Lodge #50 (32° Mason, Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple), R.S.V.P. of Enid, and the Oakwood Country Club. In his later years, he volunteered at Integris Bass Hospital and Meals on Wheels.

Roy leaves behind a loving family. He is survived by his wife Virginia; his son Robert and his wife Fathimuthzahara Salleh of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; his stepdaughter Karma Warren and her husband David of Wichita, Kansas; his stepson Dean Veit, of Hunter, Oklahoma; and three granddaughters, four step-grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. Roy was preceded in death by his first wife Virginia May, his son David, his stepdaughter Carole, his parents, and his beloved stepmother.

Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with Brown-Cumming Funeral home serving as custodians of the funds.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.Brown-Cummings.com.