Clergy Family

Richard "Dick" Gibbens

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Gibbens, 85, of Tulsa died Jan. 16, 2011. Service was Jan. 24 at Tulsa-Boston Avenue UMC.

"Dick" was born Oct. 11, 1925. He completed a master’s at Garrett Evangelical Seminary, Northwestern University, Chicago, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma City University.

During his last year in seminary, he served a Chicago church where he met his wife, Jeannine.

His first pastorate in Oklahoma was as an associate at OKC-Wesley, in 1948. He also served Blanchard, OKC-Village, Wewoka, Edmond, Elk City, McAlester-Grand Avenue, Duncan-First, OKC-Nichols Hills, Ponca City-First, and Muskogee-First churches. He then served as Lawton District superintendent and director of the Circle of Care. He retired in 1992.

The Gibbenses also were committed to family ministry and led Marriage Enrichment programs.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Rev. Twila Gibbens, who is pastor of Tulsa-St. Paul’s UMC, and Kathy Laptad of Tulsa; son Rick Gibbens of Eufaula; and eight grandchildren.

"Becky" Darrah

Carolina "Becky" Beckloff Darrah, 81, of Tulsa died Jan. 20, 2011. She was the wife of Rev. Dwight Darrah, retired elder.

Memorial service was Jan. 24 at Tulsa-Boston Avenue UMC.

Becky was born March 14, 1929, in Okeene. She held a bachelor’s in Christian Education from Oklahoma City University, where she met Dwight. The couple married on Aug. 15, 1951, in Okeene.

A homemaker, Becky participated in United Methodist Women and PEO, and had traveled internationally. Rev. Darrah retired in 1992.

Survivors include Rev. Darrah; two sons, David, of Lake Jackson, Texas, and Mark, of Tulsa; daughter Linda Reynolds of Tulsa; and two grandsons.

Ardeth Armstrong

Ardeth F. Yeargan Armstrong, 93, of Yukon died Nov. 28, 2010. She was the widow of Rev. Patrick W. Armstrong, who died in 1999.

Service was Dec. 3 at OKC-St. Luke’s UMC.

Ardeth was born Sept. 12, 1917, in Dallas, Texas. She and Rev. Armstrong were married 62 years.

She was a Certified Professional Secretary, working for Kerr-McGee Corp. for many years.

Survivors include daughters Susan Witt and Carolyn Taylor and two grandchildren.

Margaret Duncan

Margaret Louise Sherk Duncan, 86, of Nashville, Tenn., died Dec. 13, 2010. A laywoman, she was a Methodist medical missionary in the 1950s and ’60s.

Memorial service was Dec. 23 at Eastland Funeral Home Chapel, Nashville.

She was born in 1924, and she graduated from John Hopkins School of Nursing, the University of Minnesota, and OU.

Margaret was a public health nurse. In 1954, she was commissioned for missionary service by Bishop Angie Smith of the Oklahoma Conference, and she ministered in Belgium, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She also worked for the Oklahoma City/County Health Department.

She was a former member of OKC-Penn Avenue UMC.

Survivors include sons Dan, Frank, Bruce, and Douglas Duncan.