H. Allan Oehlschlager

H. Allan Oehlschlager was born in Kansas City, Missouri on April 13, 1914 to Henry George and Lillie Mae (Kaltenbach) Oehlschlager. He passed at the age of 102 at his home in Norman, Oklahoma on September 24, 2016.

Allan lived a full and successful life with a philosophy of “accomplish something every day” and he greeted each day with a positive attitude. His strong faith guided his life and his commitment to be mindful of the needs of others which was his daily prayer. This included supporting each community in which he lived. From Kansas City to Norman with stops in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Yale, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, and Edmond… Allan looked back on his life and said, “It was a glorious ride.”

Allan graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1937. While there he rowed for the 150 – Pound Crew and was a member of the all-male drama group Mask and Wig, performing for various venues in Philadelphia as well as the University. After graduation he worked in New York in sales and continued that position in New England, moving to Connecticut after his recent marriage to Kay Givens. While there, they happily welcomed the arrival of their two sons before moving to Yale, Oklahoma in the mid 1940’s. Allan joined in a family business and created two more as well. While there, as usual, he involved himself in the community and helped with the building of a swimming pool and tennis courts for the town. He also performed in several plays in nearby Stillwater’s Town and Gown Community Theatre. He was also a member of the Great Books Discussion Group.

In 1965, Allan moved to Oklahoma City where he started an investment business which evolved into Oehl, Inc., an oil and gas investment company in which he participated until he turned 100.
In 1974, Allan and JC Egdorf were married at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, living in Oklahoma City the first year and moving to Norman in 1975. Allan continued his business and immediately got involved in the community, including becoming a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer on its behalf and becoming an Ambassador for them in his later years. He was also a member of several civic organizations, and a longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Allan and JC Were involved in and supported the arts. Allan was a member and president of the board of the Firehouse Art Station.

He was a man of many talents and interests including: painting, sculpting, jewelry making, tennis, gardening and reading, as well as maintaining a physical exercise program throughout his life. Golf was his favorite sport and after years of not playing, he started again at age 70 playing until he was 95. Allan shot his age every year and sometimes below it starting at age 71.

JC and Allan found joy in traveling to Europe, Canada and Costa Rica as well as visiting friends throughout the U.S. They spent several years wintering in Scottsdale, Arizona and St. Simons Island, Georgia where there were ample golf courses. Allan had a sharp and subtle wit which was appreciated and enjoyed by friends and family. He was considered ageless and had the ability to relate to most people, including young people as well as his peers. He mentored many of his younger friends and was considered by many to be their hero… He will be dearly missed.

Allan was preceded in death by: his parents; brother Keith “Doc” Oehlschlager, M.D.; sister Betty Cunningham and husband Al; and the mother of his sons, Kay Oehlschlager.

Allan is survived by: his beloved wife JC of the home; children Cameron Oehlschlager and wife Lilly Gonzales of Costa Rica, Keith Oehlschlager and wife Janis of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, Kerry Egdorf-Schenke and husband Scott of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Eric Egdorf and wife Tamara Madden of Lone Tree, Colorado; brother-in-law Jack Witherspoon and wife Lona of Richardson, Texas; sisters-in-law Jimmie Nell Oehlschlager and Joanna Givens; seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.