Reopening Rib Crib to donate to cook's family
BY SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
5/25/10 at 10:43 AM
Related Story: Crime witnesses urged to help police
The barbecue restaurant where a robbery turned fatal last week will reopen Tuesday and will donate 20 percent of next week's proceeds to a memorial fund for the slain cook's family.
Services for Howard "Bud" Stoddard will be held Friday evening at the Southminster Presbyterian Church, where he often volunteered.
Stoddard was fatally shot Thursday when three robbers walked into the Rib Crib at 16th Street and Harvard Avenue at closing time.
A fund to help his wife and their eight children has been established with F&M Bank. The Rib Crib has donated to that cause and is also setting up its own fund in memory of Stoddard, 50.
Family members will visit with friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Mark Griffith-Westwood Funeral Home.
Police are continuing to investigate the crime, but "the three that (police) think were involved are in custody," Sgt. Dave Walker said Monday.
Isaiah Peevy and Deonte Marshall, both 19, and D'Andre Finnie, 18, are being held in the Tulsa Jail without bond, records show.
Grief counselors have met individually with the about 30 employees at the Rib Crib where Stoddard worked. Counselors will continue to be available as the restaurant reopens, said Brad Dentis, the company's vice president of operations.
From Sunday to June 6, the Rib Crib will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from sales at its 1601 S. Harvard Ave. location to Stoddard's memorial fund, he said.
"It's the least that we can do to help keep the family in good financial straits," Dentis said.
Judging by the crowd at a candlelight vigil in the restaurant's parking lot Friday, Dentis expects a large turnout of customers next week.
"I hope to be writing them a big fat check," he said.
Stoddard's stepson, Jimmy Diffee, said the Rib Crib has been helpful during the family's ordeal and that he is thrilled to hear about the extra donation.
"They really have been incredible throughout this process," he said of the restaurant, where his stepfather worked for eight years.
The next few days for the Stoddards' family and friends will be difficult, but the support from the extended family and local community help, Diffee said. The large response reminds the family of how beloved Stoddard, a Little League coach and volunteer, was.
"It's been amazing — the outpouring of love we've seen here," he said.
Stoddard was known for his selflessness and his love of helping and mentoring others, Diffee said.
"It's starting to really settle in now," he said Monday.
Funeral for Howard
“Bud” Stoddard
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Southminster Presbyterian Church, 3500 S.
Peoria Ave.
Visitation
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Mark Griffith-Westwood
Funeral Home, 4424
S. 33rd West Ave.
Memorial fund
Donations may be made
at any F&M Bank branch or
by mail to The F&M Bank
& Trust Co., P.O. Box 4500,
Tulsa, OK 74159.
World staff writer Nicole Marshall contributed to this story.
Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Stoddard
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