George Meyers

George L, Meyers (1917-2011) George L. Meyers, 93, a retired vice president of Petrolite Corp.'s Bareco Division, died Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Heritage Villa Nursing Center, Bartlesville, after a brief illness. Born July 25, 1917, at El Paso, TX, he was the son of George Lentton Meyers, Sr., and Sallie Frances Key. His parents, both teachers, joined the U.S. Indian Service when he was two years old. He grew up on the Pima, Maricopa, Zuni, Navajo, and Hopi reservations in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as at Tulalip, WA, where his father was principal and his mother a teacher at a boarding school serving 33 tribes. After graduating from Durango High School, Durango, CO, Mr. Meyers attended Fort Lewis Junior College at Hesperus, CO, and earned chemical engineering degrees from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Ohio State University, with a concentration on industrial waxes. He was an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, before joining Bareco in 1945 as an engineer at its Barnsdall plant. He rose to plant manager and at retirement was in charge of all Bareco Division manufacturing. He and his wife, Vera Whisler Meyers, made their home in Barnsdall until moving to Pawhuska more than 30 years ago. They were married for 55 years; she died in 2008. A previous marriage, to Eleanor Henderson, ended in divorce. As young square dancers, George and Vera taught many couples their dosey-does, and George became a popular caller. Both George and Vera were active supporters and docents of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. George was a member of Rotary, the First United Methodist Church of Pawhuska, the Constantine Center, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and many civic committees and organizations. He was president of the Buffalo Hills Golf Club for several terms and served on the board of the Pawhuska hospital. He enjoyed golf, hunting, and fishing. Preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Donald F. Meyers of Greeley, CO, whose widow survives, George Meyers-known as "Bing" to his family, for his youthful crooning-is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Harold Burton and Jean A. Meyers, of Williamsburg, Va. Also surviving George and Vera are three nieces: Sallie Holman, Denver, CO; Mary Kay Rohrback, Redmond, WA; and Elizabeth Asher, Olympia, WA, as well as six nephews: Terry L. Meyers, Williamsburg, VA; John B. Meyers, Louisville, KY; Steven K. Meyers, Louisville; Peter S. Meyers, Portland, OR; William D. Meyers, Laredo, TX, and George A. Meyers, Modesto, CA. Some thirty great- and great-great- nieces and nephews are scattered from Washington and Oregon to Vermont. Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The First United Methodist Church, 621 Leahy, Pawhuska, OK 74056 Show less «