Robert Lee Overton

Robert Lee R.L. Overton, 75, went to be with his heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. He was born on December 8, 1930 in Enid, OK to Robert Wesley and Ida (Triplett) Overton. R. L. attended school in Tulsa followed by a degree in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma A & M (Oklahoma State University). R. L. was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. R. L. entered the Army Reserve after college; receiving training in Maryland and San Diego, California. Heart damage from an early bout with rheumatic fever ended R. L.s military career. Entering the work force with San Diego Gas & Electric, R. L. received extensive management training and worked in operations management. He was the youngest SDG&E executive, selected for fast-track management training. R. L. moved his family back to Oklahoma in 1967 to accept a position in Engineering Research at Oklahoma State University, College of Engineering. During his work at Engineering Research, He specialized in managing government contracts. R. L. was a past member of the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). Capitalizing on a college friendship, R. L. founded an induction heating business which produced specialized products for the pipeline corrosion control industry. R. L. participated in the early years of Frontier Engineering, Inc. rising to Vice President of Finance. R. L. left Frontier to help a startup company making products for the pipeline construction industry. These products were distributed internationally. His company participated in the construction of the worlds largest pipe coating plant located in Dammam, K.S.A. R. L. completed his business career working as a broker with the Grindstaff Realty in Stillwater. While living in San Diego, he was a founding member and chairman of the board of the San Carlos Methodist Church. Above all, R.L. was a devoted husband and father a true family man. He was the father of four children Bob, Tamara, Kendall, and Lori. He was blessed with the opportunity to be Dad to his first grandchild, Robert Overton-Ellis. R.L. is survived by his wife, Carol, his daughter, Tamara Overton, and her son, Robert, of the home; by his two sons, Bob Overton and his wife, Nancy, of Stillwater (They are expecting twins this August) and Kendall Overton and his wife, Twyla, and their children, Kendyl, Ashlee and Mallory Dawn of Oologah; and his youngest daughter, Lori Taylor and her husband, Chad, and their son, Samuel Morrison Taylor, of Tulsa. R.L. was preceded in death by his parents: Robert W. and Ida; his sister, Betty and her husband, Paul Phillips of San Diego. As a long time Stillwater resident, R.L. was well regarded by his many friends and business associates. Services for R.L. Overton will be on Monday, March 13th at 11:00 a.m. at the Palmer Marler Carberry Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Fairlawn Cemetery. Charles Baker will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday March 12th at Palmer Marler Carberry Funeral Home.