Ray Dean Linder Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Memorial services for Ray Dean Linder will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 19, 2021, at the Alva First Christian Church with Pastor Drew Kirtley and Rev. Ron Pingelton officiating. A private family interment will be held prior to the service under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Ray Dean Linder, son of the late James A. "Bub" and Edna Lorene (Rose) Linder, was born January 30, 1935, in Waynoka, Oklahoma, and passed away peacefully July 15, 2021, at Beadles Nursing Home in Alva, OK surrounded by family. He graduated from Waynoka High School in 1953 as class valedictorian and lettered all three years in baseball, basketball and football. At Southwestern State College, now SWOSU in Weatherford, OK, he was a four-year letterman in baseball and football. He was in debate and speech. It was in Weatherford that he met the love of his life, Wylodean Berry from Tipton, Oklahoma. He graduated from OU Law School in 1960, where he was the Secretary of his Senior Law Class and a member of the Delta Theta Phi Legal Faternity. During his first year, Jana Dean was born. That was the day after OU lost to Notre Dame - ending the Sooners 47 game winning streak. Once in Alva, Jay Gregory was born in 1960, Jon Berry in 1962 and Julia Kaye in 1964 - making them the "4 Js" as they were lovingly called by Aunts Tenne and Olive Linder. Dean began his law career in Alva in 1960 as the County Attorney for Woods County. From 1967-1969, he was elected County Judge, 1969-1982 he was elected Associate District Judge. In 1982, he was elected District Judge, Division 1, Fourth Judicial District of Oklahoma until his retirement, January 2015. He also served as Presiding Judge of N.W. Judicial Administrative District OK. He served as President of Oklahoma Judicial Conference, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Assembly of Presiding Judges, Chairman of Oklahoma Drug and Violent Crime Grant Board, Secretary-Treasurer and President of Woods County Bar Association. He delivered the address at the Convocation 2002 OU College of Law graduation. His judicial memberships include Judicial Oversight Committee, Trial Division Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, Oklahoma Drug and Violent Crime Grant Board, Oklahoma Court of Tax Review and Oklahoma, Woods and Woodward County Bar Associations. Community involvement includes Board of Directors of Kiwanis Club, Board of Deacons and Elders at Alva First Christian Church, Board of Directors Northwest Family Services Center, NWOSU Foundation, BJCC Citizens Advisory Board and Board of Trustees for the Charles Morton Share Trust. For 25+ years, he has served on the statewide planning committee for the Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor's Invitational Turkey Hunt and has served as Co-Chairman of the Oklahoma Legislative Quail Hunt in Woods County. Outstanding accomplishments include Alva Chamber of Commerce Exemplary Community Service Award, NWOSU Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Oklahoma Trial Judge of the Year 1997, 2000, 2002, 2012 and Oklahoma Bar Association Award of Judicial Excellence. He is survived by his beautiful wife Wylodean of nearly 65 years, daughter Jana Pitt, son Jon Linder, daughter Julia (Kelly) Schrock, grandchildren Kelli (Justin) Vinyard, Tyler (Brooke) Crawford, Sean (Payten) Pitt, Kaleb Schrock, great-grandchildren Nolan Dean and Gracyn Vinyard, and sister Carolyn (Bob) Calvery. He was preceded in death by son, Jay Linder; parents James A. "Bub" and Lorene Linder; in-laws, Clarence and Mary Berry; brother, Jim Linder; and special aunts, Tenne Linder, Olive Linder, and Pearl English Crane. In lieu of flowers, the family request a memorial contribution to the Dean Linder Broadcast Scholarship, NW Foundation and Alumni Association or the First Christian Church Desciples of Christ, Alva. Final sign-off "Good night and continue to be real good sports."

Ray Dean Linder

January 30, 1935 - July 15, 2021