David Dean Oberhelman

David Dean Oberhelman, 52, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, passed away at his home on Thursday, January 25, 2018 after a sudden illness. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home in Stillwater.

A Celebration of David’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 5PM in the chapel at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home in Stillwater. A reception will immediately follow at the funeral home. Visitation will be 9AM to 5PM Wednesday at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home.

David was born June 1, 1965 in Lubbock, Texas, to Harley Dean & Hope Constance (Nansen) Oberhelman. He graduated from Lubbock High School in 1983. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and a PhD degree in English w/Emphasis in Critical Theory from the University of California at Irvine in 1993, as well as a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania in 1997.

David was a W.P. Wood Professor of Library Service at the Edmon Low Library at Oklahoma State University, where he has worked since 1999. David was an active member of the American Library Association, and is the author of over 100 scholarly publications and numerous professional presentations. He will be remembered fondly by family and many friends and colleagues from Oklahoma State University and elsewhere.   

 He is survived by his father, Harley Oberhelman of Lubbock, Texas; one brother and sister-in-law, Richard Oberhelman and Susan Berry of New Orleans, Louisiana; nephew, Steven Oberhelman of Middletown, Rhode Island; two nieces, Katherine Oberhelman and Sarah Oberhelman, both of New Orleans, Louisiana; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, and both paternal and maternal grandparents.
Memorial donation can be made in memory of David Oberhelman to the OSU Foundation in c/o Dignton-Marler Funeral Home, 5106 North Washington, Stillwater, OK 74075.