Updated: 06 Sep 2009

[ Home ] [ Index ] [ Back ]

Joplin Globe
Joplin, Missouri
August 05, 1998 

VINITA, Okla. — Russell Don Yarger, 55, Vinita, died Monday, Aug 3, 1998, at his home after an illness.

Mr. Yarger was born Sep 10, 1942, at Okemah, Okla. He moved to Sapulpa two years later and graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1960.

After high school, he worked for Security National Bank, Sapulpa. He later helped open Republic National Bank of Tulsa, serving as assistant cashier. He later was employed at Security National Bank of Joplin as assistant vice president. He remained with the Joplin bank as vice president, cashier and secretary to the board of directors until August 1974, when he moved to Vinita.

He joined First National Bank and Trust Co. of Vinita as vice president and cashier and became president and a member of the board of directors in 1986. He became chairman of the Craig County General Hospital board in 1980. He also helped organize and was the initial chairman of the Craig County Healthcare Foundation. He was also an officer on the Vinita Industrial Foundation, and the Vinita Industrial Park was renamed Don Yarger Industrial Park in his honor.

He was named citizen of the year in 1993 at Vinita. He was involved with the Vinita Chamber of Commerce on membership drives and was on its board of directors. He was a member of the Craig County Election Board and had previously worked as a volunteer for more than ten years, tabulating results on election nights. He was a member and past president of the MedSource board for many years. He also was involved in Red Feather, the Vinita Calf Fry, the Vinita Rodeo, and the Vinita Rotary Club. He was involved in Rotary Radio Night, and was given the Service Above Self Award, Rotary's highest honor.

He was a member of Vinita First Baptist Church, where he sang in the Silver Tones choir.

He married Patricia Ann McClure in October 1964 at Sapulpa. She survives.

Additional survivors include a daughter, Melissa Cox, Fort Collins, Colo.; a son, Randy Yarger, Tulsa; his mother, Goldie M. Yarger, Sapulpa; a brother, Pressley V. Yarger, Sapulpa; a sister, Sonya Hanks, Marco Island, Fla.; and a grandchild.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Vinita First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Henry Haynes officiating. Burial will be in Sapulpa Cemetery at 3 pm Thursday.

Pallbearers will be Jack Nichols, Bill Daugherty, John Burckhalter, Dave Deffenbaugh, Jim Ratcliff and Jan Tupper.

Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 pm today at Burckhalter Funeral Home, Vinita.

Contributions may be made to the Craig County Healthcare Foundation, in care of the funeral home.

SOURCE: The Joplin Globe [Dec 2001]