Pauline Vanlandingham Rooker

Pauline Vanlandingham Rooker, of Stillwater, passed away July 13, 2021, at the age of 94. She was born November 23, 1926, the eldest of nine children born to Alvie and Faye Vanlandingham.
Pauline attended rural grade schools in the Shawnee area, then moved to McLoud as a freshman, where she met her future husband, Paul Rooker. She graduated as Salutatorian of Macomb High School in 1943, age 16. Her first job was at Tinker Air Force Base where she “helped win the war with her typewriter.” After the War, she started college at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater. When Paul returned from the Navy, they married September 5, 1947 and settled in Stillwater; she graduated from A&M in 1949, with a Bachelors in Home Economics Education.
The young couple was married five years before children arrived; they taught in Depew then returned to the farm north of McLoud. The next six years brought 5 children … Keith, Jill, and Rodney were born while they lived in McLoud. Paul then worked in Ag Extension several years, and twins Jennifer and Paula were born in Hugo. The Rookers returned to Stillwater for grad school the summer of 1960 then moved back to McLoud to begin work as educators, while also farming and raising cattle. Pauline first taught 2nd grade and worked to complete a Masters in Elementary Education from OSU. She later completed additional graduate hours at Central State (UCO) to obtain Reading Specialist certification and started the special reading program at McLoud Elementary. Pauline was a member of Oklahoma Education Association, National Education Association, and the International Reading Association. She utilized puppets in teaching reading and made multiple presentations at state and national reading conferences.
She concluded her teaching career at McLoud in 1986, where Paul had retired the year before; they left two days later for their first trip to Alaska. Retirement thus began a new phase of life – the “travel years,” as Paul and Pauline moved from tiny to small to medium travel trailers and also utilized time shares to see the US, including two trips to Alaska and many trips to see children and grandchildren in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Pauline was definitely the “reading Grandma.” There were several trips to OSU ballgames over the years as well as many summers in their beloved Colorado and winters in Arizona. During the next 25+ years, they also traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Cyprus, Egypt, China, and Jerusalem. Once travel took over, they were ready to sell the farm and cattle then moved back to Stillwater, where they attended OSU events when home from their travels.
Pauline and Paul were married 72 years before his death in 2020. She was also preceded in death by her parents; Paul’s parents, Fred and Pearl Rooker; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Betty Rooker; her brothers Joe Fred, James, and Howard Vanlandingham. She is survived by her five children: Keith & Linda Rooker of Smock, PA; Jill Rooker of Stillwater; Rodney Rooker of Perkins; Jennifer Vojtas of Stillwater; and Paula and David Russell of Stillwater; ten grandchildren: Kyle and Jen Rooker of Kenosha, WI; Kevin and Mandy Rooker of Smock, PA; Ryan Rooker of Shawnee; Amanda and Greg Hernandez of Yukon; Hayley and Nate Charlton of Oklahoma City; Kristi Kassimer of Smock, PA; Matt and Kate Jones of North Lake, TX; Mason Jones of Oklahoma City; Deborah Vojtas of San Marcos, TX; and Teresa Vojtas of Gainesville, GA. She has eight great grandchildren: Piper and Kendall Rooker of Kenosha, WI; Sadie Jo Rooker of Smock, PA; Jack Charlton of Oklahoma City; Cohen and Wyatt Kassimer of Smock, PA; and Patsy and Wade Jones of North Lake, TX.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association c/o Dighton Marler Funeral Home, 5106 N. Washington St., Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075.