Josef Eugene Derryberry

Mr. Josef Eugene Derryberry Mr. Josef Eugene Derryberry, 86, of Bartlesville, died at 6:20 P.M. on Friday, June 17th, 2011 in Bartlesville. Funeral services for Mr. Derryberry will be held at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at the First Christian Church, 6th & Osage, with Chaplain Mike McDougan of Comforting Hands Hospice officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery where full military rites will be accorded by the James H. Teel American Legion Post # 105. Funeral services and interment will be under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory. Honorary casket escorts will include John Kane, Charles Kittrell, Larry Markel, Charles Martin, Bruce Peabody, Tom Preston, Tom Wiggins and Jesse J. Worten III. A memorial fund has been established and those who wish may send their contributions to the Claremore Veterans Center, ATTN: Linda Hudson, P.O. Box 988, Claremore, Oklahoma, 74018. Mr. Derryberry was born in Kansas City, Kansas on June 17, 1925 the son of Charles (Piner) Derryberry and Georgia Imogene (Brown) Derryberry. He grew up and received his education in Topeka, Kansas where he graduated from Topeka High School. He entered the U.S. Army/Air Corps in March of 1943. He served as the nose gunner on a Liberator Bomber Crew in World War II and flew 50 missions in the European Theatre. He was awarded a Certificate of Valor by General Nathan Twining, Certificate of Achievement by General Hap Arnold, awarded five air medals and four bronze stars, awarded medals for Africa, Sicily and Italian War Campaigns, a medal for the Balkins, medal for the invasion of Southern France and for Battle of European Campaign. Following his Honorable Discharge on October 11, 1945, he returned to Topeka, Kansas and attended Washburn University. He was married to Helen Lorene Crampton on September 13, 1946 at Topeka. While attending college Mr. Derryberry worked at the Menninger Clinic and the Winter Veterans Hospital. He received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Washburn University in 1949 and started in the diamond business in 1950. They came to Bartlesville and purchased the Duffendack and Hall Jewelry Store and established Josef Derryberry Jewelers in Bartlesville in 1961. Mr. and Mrs. Derryberry were co-owners and operators in the jewelry business until closing the store due to their retirement in 2004. An active community leader in his beloved Bartlesville, Mr. Derryberry served two terms on the Bartlesville City Commission under then Mayor W.A. Hensley and had also served as Vice Mayor. He had served as Vice President and President of the Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce, created and led the first industrial development team, was President of the Downtown Association three times, and four year member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission. As creator and leader of the first Industrial Development team after the loss of Cities Service, using no tax dollars and a 2 ½ man staff of the Chamber of Commerce, he was involved in the creation of 500 new jobs in three years-strictly through volunteer and highly motivated citizens. He was a member of the Washington County Trust Authority, on the Board of the American Red Cross, was a Board member of the Bartlesville Credit Bureau for 28 years, created the Bartlesville Improvement Corporation, member of Rotary Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hillcrest Country Club, Disciples Christian Church and a past member Elder of the First Christian Church. He and five other family members are listed on Panel # 10 at the Washington Park Mall Wall of Honor. Mr. Derryberry was also known for writing poetry and had developed a volume of poetry known as “Poet’s Pulpit” which was featured in the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise as well as on various radio stations. Mr. Derryberry is survived by two sons, Josef M. Derryberry and wife Joyce of Bartlesville, and Geoffrey R. Derryberry and wife Gail of Bentonville, Arkansas, one daughter, Sarah Derryberry of Bartlesville, one sister, Charlotte Ryall of Gwinn, Michigan, four grandchildren, Jennifer E. Tomlinson and husband Jeff, Amber D. Derryberry, Amy N. Derryberry and Amanda A. Derryberry and two great grandchildren, Jade Tomlinson and Jillian Tomlinson. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Col. Don Derryberry (USMC Ret) and his wife, Helen Lorene Derryberry on March 9, 2011. PDF Printable Version

Josef Eugene Derryberry

June 17, 1925 - June 17, 2011