Philip Busby

Memorial services for Philip Busby, 95, of Ada, will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 10 ^th at the First Baptist Church in Ada.

Philip Busby, well known Ada rancher and long-time advocate for Ada's water

supply, died Saturday, November 19, 2016. Mr. Busby was born May 29, 1921, to

Orel and Hope Busby of Ada, and was delivered at home by his grandmother, Dr.

Catherine Threlkeld Brydia, affectionately referred to by many as "Doc Mom".

He attended grade schools in Ada and Oklahoma City, and high school at Culver

Military Academy and The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He

attended both Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma University, where he was a proud

member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. During these years he often assisted his

father, Judge Orel Busby, on various campaigns for judgeships, and a campaign for

the U.S. Senate. During WWII, he enlisted, was commissioned as an officer, and

spent the war years as a U.S. Army drill instructor at Officer Candidate School,

preparing young officers for leadership in the war effort.

After the war, he returned home to take over the management of the family's 4B

Ranch near Allen, Oklahoma. He later established his adjacent "Lone-B" Ranch.

As a rancher, he spent 40 years outdoors, enjoying the benefits of ranching - quail

hunting, fishing, and sharing the ranches with his children, friends, local families,

and organizations like the Boy Scouts, the Young Democrats, and various church

groups.

Philip was a lifetime advocate of water conservation, both above and below

ground, beginning with his job as a field supervisor for the Oklahoma Corporation

Commission, ensuring the integrity of plugged oil wells. He was a founder and

first Chairman of the Upper Muddy Boggy Creek Watershed Association, which

eventually built 41 upstream watershed control lakes in Pontotoc and

surrounding counties. He lived to see the achievement of his dream of "every

acre in Oklahoma under upstream flood control."

He was an original member and enthusiastic supporter of the Citizens for the

Protection of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer (CPASA). He served as President of

the Pontotoc County Farm Bureau, and was active in civic organizations in Ada.

Philip was always active in Ada churches, and was especially active in children's

ministries. He taught Sunday school for 10 years for the First Baptist Church of

Ada and later developed the bus ministry for that church. He was also

instrumental in founding the Faith Baptist Church of Ada. He had a heart for

missions, and service, and made trips to Haiti, Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, and

Uganda on various types of church missions during his lifetime of service to the

Lord.

Those who knew him remember that he never met a stranger, had more friends

than he could keep up with, and would always interrupt his work day or weekend

for anyone who needed his help. He had a strong, simple faith, and a very active

guardian angel. The " Philip stories " describing his scrapes and escapes all over the world, are legendary.

He and his wife, Carolyn Boswell Busby, were married in Kilgore, Texas, in 1949,

sustained a loving marriage for 67 wonderful years, and raised a brood of devoted

"Busby Brats", who are grateful for the wisdom, humor, and love that filled their

home.

The surviving "Brats" include, daughters Catherine Dart of Norman; Marilyn

Crawford and husband, Dave of Ada; son, Steve Busby and wife, Marsha of Ada;

his 12 grandchildren, Sara Reimann, Amy Radtke, Alison Dart, Brian Dart, Philip

Dart, Steven Crawford, Jake Crawford, Alex Busby, Max Busby, Daniel Dunigan,

Josh Dunigan, Sarah Dunigan; and eight great grandchildren. He is also survived

by a brother, Robert David Busby of Washington, D.C., his wife Mary Beth, and

numerous adoring nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brother

John Orel Busby, his amazing daughter, Martha Ann Reimann, "the best of us, and

undisputed leader of the Busby Brats," and his beloved bird dog, Pete. Happy

hunting, Daddy!

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada