William E. “Bill” Harlan, Jr., was born March 21, 1927, in Wetumka, Oklahoma, to William “Elmer” and Carl (Rogers) Harlan. Bill passed away January 7, 2013, at his home in Owasso, Oklahoma, at the age of 85. Bill’s father was engaged in truck farming in Wetumka until after the beginning of WWII when he moved his family to Richmond, California, to work in the shipyards. Bill worked there until 1945 when he joined the United States Navy and served his active duty on the USS Kadashan Bay Aircraft Carrier in the South Pacific where they were in position for the invasion of Japan when the Atomic bomb ended the war. After the troops were moved home, they were sent to Boston to decommission the ship. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy as Seaman First Class V-6 USNR at Norman, Oklahoma, on July 8, 1946. Bill returned home to the love of his life, Mary Louise Plummer, who he married on April 26, 1946. They were blessed with one daughter, Bobbie Jean. They were living in Seminole when Bill joined the 45th Infantry Division to have a job operating a bulldozer. In September 1950, his unit was ordered into active military service in the Korean War with Co “B” 120 Engr C Bn. He was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard on April 21, 1952, in Oklahoma City. He moved to Tulsa and was engaged in numerous heavy construction jobs including his own construction and trucking businesses. His interests included Arabian horses, fishing, four wheeling, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Dallas Cowboys football, and spending time with family and a host of friends. He is survived by: his wife, Carolyn, of the home; daughter, Bobbie Bailey and her husband, Jim, of Owasso; grandsons, Jeff Griffith and his wife, Barbara of Owasso, Scott Bailey and his wife, Amy of Owasso, Chad Bailey of Denver, Colorado; great-grandson, Corbin Bailey; great-granddaughters, Joie Griffith, Kaylyn Bailey, and Kendall Bailey. He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandmother Harlan who nurtured him after his mother’s death when Bill was three years old; his brother, James O. Harlan; and his wife of 60 years, Mary Louise Plummer Harlan. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2013, at Mowery Funeral Service, Owasso. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 10, 2013, at First Baptist Church, Owasso, with Pastor David Willets officiating. Serving as casket bearers will be Jeff Griffith, Scott Bailey, Danny Rockett, Derrick Brooks, David Logue, and Greg Logue. Committal services and interment will be held at Graceland Memorial Park Cemetery in Owasso. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 1/9/2013.
