Walter Polk

Walter Brashear Polk, age 85, a resident of Bartlesville died Wednesday November 8, 2006 at Jane Phillips Medical Center. Walter Brashear Polk was born to Walter Howe Polk and Mary Margaret (Mamie) Brashear Polk in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He grew up in Winterville, Mississippi and attended Primary, Elementary and High Schools in Greenville, Mississippi. One of the most traumatic experiences he had as a child was the evacuation of his family to the upper floor of a building in Greenville during the Great Flood of 1927 on the Mississippi River. Later one of his greatest thrills was watching the big machinery during the building of levees to protect the low-lying lands along the river. Walter attended college at Arkansas A&M, now university of Arkansas, Monticello for two years, then transferring to Oklahoma A&M, now OSU to study Chemical Engineering. He graduated in 1944 and gained employment with Phillips Petroleum Company in Borger, Texas. While at Arkansas A&M he was a member of Alpha Delta Gamma and was active in YMCA. At OSU he was a member of Sigma Tau Kappa, Sigma Kappa, Blue Key, and Phi Lambda Upsilon. During his professional career he was very active in the Association of Chemical Engineers and The American Chemical Society. He served as Chairman of the Panhandle Section of ACS. He was also a member of The Sons of the American Revolution. Walter Polk was employed with Phillips Petroleum Company for 37 years and was a Registered Professional Engineer in both Texas and Oklahoma. He married Martha Nelle Burton in 1949 at Canyon, Texas. They lived in Borger for several years before being transferred to Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1964 where they continued to reside, except for a little over a year they spent in London, England and two years in Antwerp, Belgium, during which time he was involved with the design and construction of a petrochemical plant in Antwerp. Walter and Martha Nelle were the proud parents of a daughter, Ann. Upon retirement in 1982 the Polk family remained in Bartlesville. During his many years Walter was always interested in Community activities and remained active in scientific progress. While in Borger, Walter was a very active member of the American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, taught night classes in Engineering and Mathematics at Phillips College in Borger and was active in his church. Throughout his life he had an abiding love for classical music and opera. Both he and Martha Nelle sang in the choir of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Bartlesville for many years. After retirement he did a long stint as a substitute teacher in the Bartlesville School System and did a considerable amount of tutoring with private students. Later he worked in a one-on-one basis with individual students with their reading at Hoover Elementary School. These were among his most "fun" years helping in the development of young minds. Mr. Polk is survived by his wife Martha Nelle Polk of the home, his daughter Ann Polk of Phoenix, Arizona, a sister, Mrs. R.R. Fullerton (Betty) of Tyler, Texas and two nieces. Funeral services for Walter Brashear Polk will be held 4:00 PM, Saturday, November 11, 2006 at the St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Bartlesville with The Reverend Robert Evans as celebrant assisted by the Polk's good friend and neighbor, The Reverend James Meimerstorf of Our Savior Lutheran Church and The Reverend Dr. T. Lee Stephens, rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. In Lieu of flowers friends are asked to donate to the Special Activities Memorial Fund at Hoover School of Bartlesville. Funeral services are under the direction of the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences can be left at www.honoringmemories.com.

Service Details

Saturday, November 11th, 2006 4:00pm