Earl Leroy Wilt

Earl Leroy, son of Gladys Ethel (Hickman) and Frank Clinton Wilt was born on December 3, 1940 on a cold and stormy night, in an old farmhouse in rural Woods County west of Dacoma. The inclement weather forced the attending doctor to spend the night there. He passed away at his home in Alva at the age of 83 years, 10 months and 27 days. At the age of five Earl attended a one room county school as a sole first grader. The family then moved to Alva where he attended second through sixth grade at Washington Grade School and junior high at Horace Mann on the NWOSU Campus. His high school years were split between the old Alva High School on Flynn and the new Alva High School on 14th Street. Earl received a degree in natural science with an education minor from NWOSU, In 1962 he took a teaching job in Sawyer, KS teaching science and history classes for four years until it consolidated. He then began teaching at Jet, OK in 1966, remaining for 26 years as a science teacher as well as principal and superintendent for a time. He especially enjoyed teaching biology, chemistry, and botany. He was proud of his students: he ran a”Tight Ship”and took many students to summer science camps out of state. He received his Education Masters Degree from NWOSU in 1967 and further education at Eagle Lake Biological Station, plus ecology studies at Aspen Colorado retiring in 1992. He married Lynn (Von Gunten) Kinnamon in Jet, OK on February 15, 1991. After retiring Earl pursued family genealogical research. He loved to travel, to study the American West and Native Americans. He was an accomplished student of their histories, lore, and a knowledgeable collector of their art forms. Earl was an avid flower and tomato gardener, spending hours working in his yard. Earl is survived by his wife, Lynn of the home here in Alva, his brother Lewis Dean of Alva and number of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions may be made through Wharton Funeral Chapel to N.W.O.S.U. Foundations in his name or to the Alva Public Library Genealogy Department.

Earl Leroy Wilt

December 3, 1940 - October 30, 2024