Final Salute

Ulon Killmer was born the 5th of 6 children of Jessey Harper and Susan Birtie (Light) Killmer October 21, 1924, in Brady, Oklahoma. He passed from this life in Blanchard, Oklahoma, October 21, 2026, his 102nd Birthday. Ulon entered this earth and departed for heaven on the same day, in two different centuries.

Ulon’s family came here from Arkansas in two covered wagons and settled in the Blanchard area, where he grew up. His family was dirt poor and worked hard. Ulon’s strong work ethic was the result of his upbringing, and he passed it on to his children. He spoke of walking from the family home north of the Blanchard Cemetery with his older brother, Waylon, to Cole, working in the broom corn field all day, then walking back home for very little pay. Ulon told how the field owner tried to pay him a meager wage because of his youth, but his brother Waylon stood up to the man telling him Ulon had worked as hard as anyone else. Ulon was given his fair wage.

Ulon attended Prairie Valley and Blanchard Schools. He left before graduation at age 18 for California to work as a welder in the ship yards. He then enlisted as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy on August 2, 1943, in Williamsburg, Virginia, and served 2 years, 8 months, and 8 days, whereupon he was honorably discharged April 3, 1946. He served with the 127th Naval Construction Battalion at Pearl Harbor after it was bombed, and later served in the Philippines, building roads, runways, ammunition dumps, etc. After the bombing in Japan, Ulon was shipped from the Philippines to Japan where he served in support of the occupation forces.

He returned to Blanchard after the war was over and on February 28, 1948, he married Vivian Marie (Lee) Killmer at the home of her parents just west of Blanchard. They were married just shy of 59 years, with Vivian passing February 6, 2007. Ulon farmed and was a welder and heavy equipment operator during their early married life. Prior to moving to Blanchard, they lived on their farm in Middleberg , where Ulon served on the School Board there. As a carpenter, Ulon built houses in Blanchard, Tuttle, and Lindsay. Later, as a union carpenter for many years, he worked on the construction of commercial buildings in Oklahoma City, Norman (OU campus), Edmond (CSU – now UCO) campus, and Blanchard’s underground school building. In 1972, he returned to the occupation he enjoyed most, farming, and they moved to Weleetka, where Ulon lived on his beloved farm until 2010 when he returned to Blanchard.

Their daughter, Janean Marie, was born in 1954, and their son, Steven Ulon, in 1957. Ulon and Vivian had moved to town in Blanchard before Steve was born. Ulon served on the Blanchard School Board from 1965 – 1970, and served as Commander of the American Legion in the 1960s.

Ulon and Vivian were both always active in their church and community, teaching and serving on various committees and boards. Ulon was ordained as deacon at First Baptist Church, Weleetka, in 1975. He served on the Okfuskee County Election Board in the 1980s, and was a member of the Okfuskee County District #3 Rural Water Board for many years. Ulon and Vivian also devoted themselves to providing missions volunteer services. They traveled to Billings, Montana, each summer for 7 years to assist the Yellowstone Baptist Bible College, the only Baptist higher education institution in a 4-state area at the time, in their building efforts. In 1988, they served on a mission trip to Guatemala. Ulon worked as a Baptist Builder with the Oklahoma Baptist General Convention, served on the Oklahoma Baptist General Convention Disaster Relief team for many years, and on the North Canadian Baptist Association Mission Council. In 1994, he assisted earthquake victims in the Los Angeles area. In 1995, he traveled to Antigua to assist in rebuilding after the hurricane there. In 1996, he helped build a church in Argentina, and in 1997, he went to North Dakota to aid the flood victims. Ulon and Vivian assisted in building efforts at Baptist retirement centers, the Royal Ambassador (RA) Camp Hudgens near McAlester, Falls Creek cabins, and at churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, Argentina, and Guatemala. Ulon also worked with Disaster Relief in Bridge Creek after the May 3rd tornado.

On December 5, 2007, Ulon married Mary Ruth Johnson of Weleetka in Branson, Missouri. Ulon and Ruth moved from Weleetka to Blanchard in 2010. Ruth passed June 25, 2019.

After returning to Blanchard, Ulon and his daughter Janean were honored to travel to Washington D.C., June 4, 2014, with Oklahoma Honor Flight #17 (honoring veterans). Ulon was named Grand Marshall of the Blanchard Veterans Parade in 2021 at the age of 97, and was presented a veterans honor quilt made by local quilters in 2024. These events brought him much pleasure in his later years. Ulon also continued to work building fences, carports, and breezeway covers for neighbors and friends until his health forced him to retire at the age of 95.

Ulon was preceded in death by his parents, the love of his life–Vivian, his second wife Ruth, his siblings and their spouses: Sally (Thomas) Rodgers, Waylon (Edith) Killmer, Arnold (Laura Mae) Killmer, Mary Omega (Buford) Bledsoe, Cora Lea (Charles) Caldwell; his son-in-law Kenneth Lamb; Vivian’s parents Marvin and Ella (Shuler) Lee, brother-in-law Dee (Irma) Lee, brother-in-law Frank (Naomi) Lee; as well as many nieces and nephews

He is survived by his daughter Janean Lamb of Blanchard, his son Steve (Debra) Killmer of Weleetka, his grandchildren Kenna (Lamb) and Greg Brooks of Marlow, Derek and Chandra Lamb of Blanchard, Christopher and Jennifer Killmer of Edmond, Michael and Amy Killmer of Weleetka; his great-grandchildren Kaylee (Brooks) and husband Sam Williams of Arapaho, Chloe (Brooks) and husband Heath Abrahamsen of Edmond, Cooper Brooks of Edmond, Deklyn (Lamb) and husband Garen Green of Blanchard, Emma Lamb of Blanchard, Vivian and Karsten Killmer of Edmond, Raylee and Madalyn Killmer of Weleetka; his great-great granddaughter Ellie Marie Williams of Arapaho, as well as nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express special thanks to Suncrest Hospice, especially to Beth, Rayna, Melissa, Cortney, Angel, and Chaplain Mike for the outstanding care, support, and assistance they provided Ulon and Janean as his caregiver.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, Oklahoma Baptist Builders, Samaritan’s Purse, or the Blanchard American Legion.

Viewing will be on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home with the family present from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. to greet friends. Ulon’s funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Eisenhour Funeral Home Chapel in Blanchard. Burial with military honors will follow in the Blanchard Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard. Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.eisenhourfh.com.