Howard 'Skip' Skillman

Howard Leon Skip Skillman, 71, of Perkins,OK, went to be with his savior on April 26, 2012 surrounded by his family. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater and will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 30 at River of Life Curch. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 12-8pm on Sunday.
Skip Skillman was born on July 21, 1940 in Elwood, IN to Kenneth and Ruth (McPhearson) Skillman. He grew up and attended schools in Elwood, graduating from Fayetteville High School. Skip was known at Fayettville as the Mighty Mite of the Hardwood for his incredible athletic abilities. Playing for The Los Angeles Dodgers tempted Skip, but he chose instead to attend Taylor University on a baseball scholarship. After leaving Taylor, he joined the United States Air Force and attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base before being stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, serving for four years as an administrative technician. Following his honorable discharge from the USAF, Skip went to work for Arvin Industries in Columbus, Indiana. He also re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In 1957, Skip was baptized into the faith at the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn in Elwood, IN. In 1967, Skip relocated to Agra, OK and took a job working as an IBM systems analyst for First National Bank in Stillwater. In 1970, he accepted a position as a systems analyst at Oklahoma State University, a job he would enjoy for more than 30 years. In 1977, Skip married his best friend and the love of his life, Elaine Parker and they made their home in Perkins, OK. In the mid 1990s, Skip retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a Sgt. First Class. In 2002, after 32 years of service, Skip retired from OSU.
Skip was a kind and generous man who enjoyed making other people laugh. He was unselfish and always put others needs before his own. He was intelligent and was routinely called upon to figure the taxes of his friends and neighbors. He enjoyed playing softball and competed until he turned forty, at which point he took up a new found passion, golf. On Monday mornings, Skip could always be found drinking coffee and playing a round of golf at Cimarron Trails with the same group of guys. Every year for nearly 30 years Skip played the role of Commissioner ("The Commish) for The Kentucky Classic, an annual family golf tradition at Bright Leaf Golf Resort in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. More than anything, Skip enjoyed spending time with his family. He particularly loved to hang out with his grandchildren and could always be found on the sidelines cheering them on at their athletic events.
Skip was a loyal husband, loving father, devoted grandfather, beloved brother, and trusted friend. His legacy of love will live on through the lives of his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered for the faith and courage he displayed throughout his battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and he will be deeply missed by all those fortunate enough to have called him a friend.
He is survived by his wife: Elaine Skillman Four children : Tina Burtrum and husband Clay, of Stillwater. Ken Skillman and wife Tonya, of Stillwater. Stacie Smith and husband Mark, of Frisco, TX. Heather White and husband Mark, of Dallas TX. Six siblings: Terry Skillman and wife Susie. Steve Skillman and wife Becky. Theresa Rhoden and husband Kenny. Bob Skillman and wife Linda. Stan Skillman and wife Jill. Rita Bullock and husband Mark and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Eight Grandchildren: Brian and Adeline Skillman, Riley Smith, Westyn and Maddie White, Karly, Kinzie, and Avery Burtrum.
Skip was preceded in death by his parents, a son Brian Skillman, and a brother Jeffrey Wayne Skillman.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Skips honor to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Oklahoma.
Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.pmcfh.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/pmcfh